October 22, 2009
The California Hospital Association says that hospitals are doing “everything possible” to stem the spread of the H1N1 virus, including asking all hospital workers to get vaccinated. However, CHA President and CEO, C. Duane Dauner, recently called on the California Nurses Association (CNA) to stop using the H1N1 pandemic as a smokescreen to pursue its union-organizing agenda. CNA yesterday announced a one-day strike for Oct. 30 at 39 hospitals across California, Nevada and Arizona. Although CNA claims that the strike is about H1N1 preparedness, the labor union has publicly acknowledged that it is in contract negotiations or organizing campaigns at these same hospitals. CNA did not accuse any other hospitals of being unprepared.
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October 14, 2009
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that with the open enrollment season upon us, many employees will see a steep rise in premiums for 2010. Employees will pay $4,023 on average in premiums and out-of-pocket charges next year, up 10% from 2009, according to a projection from Hewitt Associates, a benefits-consulting firm. In dollar terms, it’s the biggest boost since the firm started keeping track of the data a decade ago.
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October 13, 2009
Highlighting the need for vaccinations and other preventive measures, the Wall Street Journal is reporting today on the results of three studies which indicate the H1N1 outbreak could place severe stress on Hospital ICU’s. “The tipping point for how the public responds and reacts will be if people can’t get intensive care, and die when they shouldn’t have,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
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Oct 1, 2009
Today, PR Newswire is reporting that the Massachusetts Nurses Association has voted in favor of affilation with a new national union for Registered Nurses. Once the merger is completed, the new organization – National Nurses United – will join together the 23,000-member MNA with the 86,000-member California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) and the 45,000 member United American Nurses.
“We have just sent shock waves through the health care industry and I hope it sends chills down the backs of those employers who would want to continue to keep us down,” said Karen Higgins, an ICU nurse at Boston Medical Center. National Nurses United is scheduled to hold its founding convention December 7 and 8 in Scottsdale, AZ. The new union will be comprised of more than 150,000 front-line direct care nurses working in 22 states.
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