The votes are in. Framingham RNs agree to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association
FRAMINGHAM — Nurses at the Framingham Union Hospital campus of MetroWest Medical Center have voted to form a union.
Nurses on Wednesday voted 188-37 to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the state's largest union of registered nurses. The 25,000-member union represents nurses throughout the state, including at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester — which, like MetroWest Medical Center, is owned by Tenet Healthcare — and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The MNA has nurses at more than 70% of the state's acute care hospitals.
The MNA is led by a board of directors that is directly elected by its membership and consists of front-line nurses and other health care professionals.
'We need to vote': Budding nurses union claims interference from Framingham hospital
About 280 Framingham nurses were eligible to vote in the election, which comes after nurses filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board in September.
“Caring for patients in a hospital has never been more challenging and complex,” said Framingham Union registered nurse Paivi Ratu-Rodriguez, in a statement provided by the MNA. “Our election victory gives us the power to make positive changes that benefit our patients, the working environment of our colleagues, and our entire community.”
“We are thrilled to have our union,” added Adam Crawford, also a Framingham registered nurse. “Framingham Union nurses now have a strong and independent voice to address the patient safety issues we face daily. As union nurses, will use our legal rights to improve care conditions and our nursing practice.”
Framingham Union Hospital, on Lincoln Street, is a part of MetroWest Medical Center, which also operates two other facilities — MetroWest Wellness Center, on Worcester Road (Route 9) in Framingham; and Leonard Morse Hospital, which focuses on mental health services, on Union Street in Natick.
Nurses at MetroWest Wellness and Leonard Morse Hospital are not affected by Wednesday's vote.
Why did Framingham nurses vote to unionize?
Nurses at Framingham Union filed notice on Sept. 12 with the NLRB to trigger an election to join the MNA. About 70% of nurses signed union cards, more than double the federally required 30% needed for an election to occur. Nurses cited concerns about unsafe working conditions, staffing and wages. They also said lower staffing has led to longer emergency room waits for patients, services being shut down and occasionally ambulances being diverted from the hospital.
While nurses petitioned to have a unionization vote in September, they claimed Tenet delayed action on cooperating with a potential election. The case went before the NLRB, which stated that Tenet was required to permit an election.
What happens now?
The MNA must now file a demand to bargain, and will get negotiation dates after the NLRB certifies the election.
In the meantime, nurses will establish local union guidelines, vote for their elected leaders and bargaining committee and begin determining proposals for contract negotiations.
Carolyn Jackson, Massachusetts market CEO at Tenant, and MetroWest Medical Center CEO John Whitlock are scheduled to appear Tuesday before the Framingham City Council. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Blumer Room at the Memorial Building, 150 Concord St.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham Union Hospital nurses vote in favor of joining MNA
