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September 30, 2006
We Win!
That's what a respiratory therapist said about our new contract. "We win!"
In case you've been wondering where I've been, I've been in round the clock negotiations with the nurses and health care professionals and technical employees at our largest hospital. Tuesday we started at noon, went till 2 am, started at 10 am Wednesday (but my phone started ringing at 6 am so I got three hours of sleep) and went all night Wednesday and into Thursday, when we had membership meetings starting at half past seven and going until about six that night. Same thing, only meetings going later, on Friday. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, into Thursday, I got three hours of sleep. By Thursday afternoon I could barely stand up, and luckily a co-worker gave me a ride home so I didn't kill myself driving.
The great news is: we settled excellent contracts for both the new bargaining unit (professional and technical) and the nurses! The negotiating committee did a great job, Edward was brilliant as always (best negotiator in the world) and in the end, management did the right thing on most of our issues. Our pro/tech unit is getting a massive increase in their pension, tiny increases in their healthcare costs (which in this environment is amazing -- most places pay much more for healthcare) and decent wage increases for the first time in many years, including pay for their experience (for the first time!) The contract was ratified overwhelmingly, we got lots of hugs, and the committee was very proud of their work. I'm so proud of my pros and techs... it's hard to sit there day after day, and into the night, representing your co-workers and fighting for what you deserve in the face of management's insistance that you deserve less. They did a great job. I hope they're getting some rest!
I'm attempting to get some rest, but alas, the world doesn't stop. We have the Scranton campaign to move forward, I still have tons of unpacking to do (closets just got finished on Friday!) and the cats still have to be fed, dishes done, meals prepared, etc. It was nice to go back to cooking today... I really notice when I don't cook that I miss the creative outlet and meditative quality of preparing meals. Tonight I made a Quorn roast with nonfat yogurt gravy and brussels sprouts, and a pumpkin/caramel/apple parfait with nonfat ricotta for dinner.
I'm definitely still dragging... it will take awhile to catch up on sleep and get over the exhaustion not just of the last week but of the last nine months or so. My job is never-ending exhaustion, and by now I'm used to it. But it's all worth it when I know that the people who care for the toughest patient population in Philadelphia will get decent salary increases, good health care, and excellent pensions because of the work we did with them.
Onward to Scranton!
Posted by april at September 30, 2006 8:54 PM
Comments
Sincere congratulations, April! The wonderful work you are doing is deserving of many blessings. JD :-)
Posted by: Judith at October 1, 2006 9:25 AM