EMMC Nurses Contract to Expire

We read today that the one year contract that the EMMC nurses had signed last year is expiring. As the two sides begin to negotiate for another contract it is evident that the animosity between the two sides has not gone away.

The administration of the hospital of course has to look at the big picture and nurses are, although very important, just one of the many costs the hospital has. That said we should be clear that the hospitals are not losing money at least not a hospital such as EMMC.

What always strikes me about situations like this is not the battle between the administration and the nurses union, that is, in today's world to be expected I guess. What surprises me each and every time it occurs is the absolute vitriol that a good part of the population express about the unions. Now I do understand that the posters to websites like The Bangor Daily News are as a matter of course usually more right wing but I do feel surprise at how much these people spew hate and discontent toward these nurses.

The nurses are asking for a 3 percent raise and some negotiations on work rules. What seems to bring the anger out is that many folks feel that they could not get a 3 percent raise right now. These same folks are non unionized. There is a benefit to being in a union.

Over and over again these folks on the right express anger at those who are in a union and negotiate for benefits rather than wishing to improve their own station by unionizing.

I clearly am out of step with our culture on this issue. I simply cannot fathom that antipathy that people feel towards a nurse asking for a three percent raise.