I'm writing to you as your neighbor and employee of UVMMC. Tonight the nurses' union has authorized a five day strike as the hospital has refused to budge on equitable pay for nurses. As it stands, one unit at UVMMC is staffed 53% with travelers. Nurses hardly stay at UVMMC more than a year. Nurses are fighting for wage equity due to high costs of living and constantly losing nurses who can't afford to stay here. Our union is not striking lightly and tried to bargain in good faith. The hospital, however, did not, and the union is filing unfair labor practices for the hospital not bargaining in good faith.
I am a proud labor and delivery nurse, and it breaks my heart to step away from patient care. However, I am passionate about the community having a sustainable, local nurse workforce. Unfortunately after attending many bargaining meetings, the hospital does not share this goal.
I am asking you as my neighbors to please support the nurses' union in our efforts to fight for wage equity and having a sustainable long-term nursing workforce.
I will continue to update Front Porch Forum with how to support the nurses, attend picketing, and otherwise fight for our community. I would love for you to join us on the picket line July 12-16, post yard signs, call the media, and read more about the data we used to support our asks at
https://vfnhp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/combinepdf-11.pdf
In solidarity,
Maya Cohen
Jul 8, 9 AM to 12 PM, Jul 12, 2024
Shelburne July 9, 2024 Age Well Grab and Go MealJul 9, 2024, 11 AM to 12 PM
Vermont Teddy Bear Picnic!Jul 10, 2024, 11 AM to 1 PM