L+M Nurses, Technicians Vote to Authorize Strike

In a secret-ballot election on Thursday, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and health care technicians at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital voted to authorize their union to call a strike in protest of what the union says are unfair labor practices.

"By voting to strike, we're standing up for our community and the quality care they deserve," said Lisa D'Abrosca, an RN at L+M Hospital and president of AFT Local 5049, in a statement issued Thursday night after the vote. "This is not a decision any of us take lightly. But we are deeply concerned that the community is losing the hospital it has counted on for over 100 years.”

Local 5049 represents about 540 RNs at the hospital, while Local 5051 represents about 250 LPNs.

“We are aware of the vote, but we have not received an official notice of the union’s intention to strike,” hospital spokesman Michael O’Farrell said. “Our focus has been — and remains — on negotiating a contract that is acceptable to both parties. We are at the table again Friday, and we hope the union has the same focus we do.”

The unions accuse L+M of putting patients at risk by moving some services offsite to its partners and displacing more experienced workers at the hospital. An unfair labor practices charge against L+M filed in August is still pending at the National Labor Relations Board.

“Experience should mean something, especially when you’re dealing with life and death issues,” said Stephanie Johnson, a sleep lab technician at L&M Hospital and president of AFT Local 5051. “It doesn’t seem to mean much to the corporation that runs our community hospital. They have shown no willingness to stop replacing experienced caregivers and health professionals with less experienced replacement workers.”

O’Farrell, though, noted that the union contract, which expires at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, requires at least 10 days notice of a strike. And he reiterated that the hospital wants to resolve the dispute amicably.

“It’s important to note that an authorization doesn’t mean a strike will happen,” O’Farrell said. “While we respect the right of all members to vote, we hope the union shares our commitment to negotiate an agreement.”