Nurses notify Barton Health of their intent to strike for two days

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Nurses Association (CNA) served Barton Health this week with a ten-day notice of their registered nurses (RNs) intent to strike for two days, April 16-17, 2021.

Barton and CNA have been at the bargaining table, negotiating a contract for the first time since the South Lake Tahoe nurses voted to unionize in November 2017.

This will be the third time the RNs have given Barton a notice they'd be on strike since they've been meeting to iron out a contract. They had two one-day strikes in 2019.

Barton will continue to be open during the strike. Even though the nurses said they were going on a two-day strike, replacement nurses need to be hired and their minimum contract is for five days. The Barton RNs won't be able to return to work until April 21.

Many parts of the proposed contract have been agreed upon by both sides but the strike is being held over the portions they are still divided on.

"Barton Health and the nurses’ union met again on March 16 to negotiate the nurses’ union contract. Barton provided the union its final, comprehensive contract more than a year ago (Feb. 19, 2020) and – if approved by the nurses – would immediately resolve this labor dispute," said Barton Public Information Officer Mindi Befu.

Dorothy Dean, the Barton nurses union representative, said they feel disrespected in that final contract offer.

"That contract is unacceptable," said Dean. "Why would we counter with that ultimatum?"

One of the major differences are wages. Barton has offered an average of a 17 percent increase over four years (three to four percent a year). Dean says the nurses want 23 percent over the next four years (five, six, six, six percent). She said nurses in California make an average of $54/hour and the Barton nurses want to make that due to the high cost of living in South Lake Tahoe.

"We would like the median pay at Barton to match the median pay in California," said Dean. She said its important to offer that wage to retain and attract nurses.

Befu said the average wage for nurses at Barton is $49.69/hour, or about $103,000 per year. She also said the union has not brought their figures to the bargaining table for discussion.

Another sticking point on the contract is a closed shop proposal by the union. The union wants all bargaining unit nurses to join the union in order to be hired and keep their job.

"There is a national staffing shortage and now is not the time to slow down the hiring and retention of qualified nurses," said Befu.

Dean said she was concerned the board (Barton) is making it so important to have an open shop. She said a union shop was important to the nurses in 2017 when they voted to unionize, and its important now.

Dean said 97 percent of the RNs voted to strike next week.

"We are vested in the hospital, vested in the community - you want a nurse with experiences in your hospital," said Dean of the value of institutional knowledge that comes with a long term staff and not with the turnover they've seen. "I want Barton to create an environment where meaningful work is performed by nurses who feel respected and valued," said Dean.

Dean said wages, benefits and union security are important to the Barton RNs.

"Having satisfied nurses equals excellent care," said Dean.

"We have heard from nurses that they have yet to see Barton’s last, best and final contract offer, which they can only receive with the union’s permission," said Befu. "In addition, the union has yet to respond to 17 outstanding contract items, in spite of having more than a year to develop counter proposals."