So this is "retirement?"

I've heard people say they are busier in retirement than when they were working. 

Some things you have to experience for yourself.

I retired from the bedside on June 11, giving myself 2 1/2 weeks to "relax" before starting my new job.

But the world waits for no man.

I've spent 3 days in Danbury and another 3 signing papers and attending meetings related to the new position. 

Not that I haven't had company.  My fellow officers have been right alongside of me.

Oh, and that break that the organizing staff was looking forward to after the long days they've spent recently, I applologise to their families, that will have to wait.

I was in the office yesterday. I had one meeting and I organized my office so that come Wednesday (my first "official" day) I'll be good to go. 

I need to thank the staff for their patience with me for all my questions on where this or that is.

"Anna, do you dial 9 to get an outside line?"

God bless them, they'll have their hands full with me.

People have asked me if it's been a difficult change to be away from the bedside, away from my patients and my coworkers.

It's hard to say.  

I've been so busy and it's only been two weeks. 

I don't miss the stress of always feeling there wasn't enough time or help to do the quality job we wanted.

I do know this, advocating for my coworkers and our patients is a 24/7 proposition and one I welcome.

I understand there are changes in healthcare.  I recognize that some of them are for the good.

I also recognize that changes are taken by some people as opportunities to profit at the expense of the patients and their caregivers.

I see the same trend in education and public service. 

Beware of "privatization." It's not necessarily bad, but there's usually a reason someone wants to own a hospital, a school, or a public service.

One of my goals will be to always beat the drum loudly,

Patients Before Profits! 

Students Before Profits! 

The Public Before Profits!"

I have found an inspiration in my "retirement."

Larry Lewis lived in San Francisco. He lived to be 106. 

Until shortly before his death, he ran 6 miles daily, walked several miles to and from work and worked as a waiter.

Mr Lewis said, " When I hear someone say he's going to lay in the sun and enjoy his retirement, I know he's about to meet his maker."

Those my friends, are words to live by.

Patients before profits

It's state budget time in Connecticut and hospital CEOs didn't get everything they wanted so they're taking it out on their employees and patients.

Across the state, the dwindling number of "healthcare systems" are crying poverty and announcing layoffs.

These "not for profit" hospital systems are subsidized with taxpayer money.

Who is hurt?

Employees who dedicate themselves to the care of others and the patients they care for.

Let me give you one example.

Hartford Healthcare is the "not for profit" parent of Backus Hospital (where I worked for 21 years) and several other hospitals. 

This week they announced layoffs that will effect 418 people!

The Norwich Bulletin reports that in the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2013, the most recent available from the IRS, East Region President David Whitehead earned $1.09 million!

That's almost $21,000/week!

An environmental services worker making $10/hour makes $20,800/year.

BTW, "not for profit" Backus Hospital earned a $48 million profit in 2013.

It gets worse.

Mr Whitehead was only the 17th highest paid Connecticut hospital official that year.

In fact, Hartford Healthcare CEO, Elliot Joseph racked in $2.1 million and chief Operating Officer Jeffery Flaks $1.01 million.

When asked if these top earners have received less pay since 2013 as a result of the financial difficulties their spokesperson said the company does not comment on "specific employee compensation."

In an article in the New Haven Register, Connecticut Hospital Association lobbyist Stephen Frayne said the discussions about salaries is "a distraction."

He's right.

The bigger problem is that layoffs cause a lack of sufficient nurses and techs at the bedside, environmental services people to clean deadly hospital bugs, food services people to provide wholesome nutrition, etc.

I think retiring AFT Connecticut President Melodie Peters, an LPN and former state senator, said it best in responding to a statement that Connecticut hospital corporations were "transforming how we deliver health care."

She said, "so far, it looks more like they are hijacking how our state's community hospitals have traditionally served the public good. They -along with the lavishly compensated top health networks across the state- have made health care delivery look more like a game of Pac-Man than the very serious business of providing quality, affordable health care.  It's long past the time they put patients before profits - something they are obligated to do in exchange for their nonprofit, tax-exempt status."

I cry for Charleston

I cry for Charleston

and for Newtown

and Columbine 

and Boston

and Baltimore

and 911

and, and ,and........

So many I wonder if we are not numb. 

What else explains our inability to find a solution?

Often there is hatred involved, of another race, religion, sexual preference or something else. 

Often there is mental illness involved.

You combine that with the ability to possess a leathal weapon and tragedy is the result.  

I understand the right to bear arms, I understand individual freedom, but I also understand the right to life.

We need to keep leathal weapons out of the hands to those who would do others harm.

We need to provide treatment for those who are ill.

We need a commitment to make this happen.

I grow weary of crying for the innocents. 

Solidarity yesterday, today and tomorrow

I was my privilege to work with some of the nicest people in Connecticut this week.

I was in Danbury and New Milford, working with the healthcare workers of the two hospitals, AFT state and national staff and my fellow officers of AFT Connecticut.

These workers are the people who assist in the care of the patients, feed them, and keep the hospital clean and running and they are the lower paid employees of the hospital.  

Many of them could make more money working in other industries but they know that what they do makes a difference in patient's lives and that matters to them.

That is why they came together over the last several months to fight for a voice at the workplace.

They care.

The hospitals' response was to hire union buster "consultants," hired to intimidate and lie to the workers and influence the election.

A month ago, AFT exposed the "consultants" as convicted thugs who had served time for their crimes.

It took the hospitals nearly a month to "fire" the "consultants, saying "individuals from the agency have “backgrounds contrary to our organizational values,”

Of course, the "individuals" were the 2 partners of the firm and the hospitals waited until just days before the election and only after workers turned up the heat.

By then, the damage had been done.

Charges of labor law violations by the hospital are being investigated by the NLRB.

At any rate, the illegal tactics had an effect, the workers narrowly voted not to unionize at this time.

Still, nearly half the workers, in the words of AFT CT Spokesman Matt O'Conner, "came together and raised their voices collectively and they have already made significant change.”  “They didn’t gain the certification from the federal labor board for their union, but for all intents and purposes, they’ve already shown they’re stronger together.”

I won't lie.

This hurts, and it hurts because of a simple reason.

We care.

We care about the workers and the patients they provide care for.

They are our brothers and sisters.  We are proud of them and we stand with them, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Because you stand with family when they go through rough times.

And you celebrate with them when times get better.

Solidarity.

Don't believe the lies

The Healthcare Workers of New Milford and Danbury Hospitals in Connecticut have an important decision tomorrow. 

They decide whether or not to join the the union, in this case, AFT.

Coworkers and AFT staff have been reaching out to them.

Managers and "consultants" have been having meetings with them.

I imagine many of them will be glad when it is over.

I have a message, don't believe the lies. 

I was were you are 4 years ago.

I was a RN at Backus Hospital in Norwich.

I had worked there for 17 years at that time, all in the ER, first as a PCT, then a RN.

I had seen the cost cutters come through.

I had seen my hospital change.

I received a call from a coworker and I sat and talked to "the man from the union."

Management said they union was evil, that it would take my money, that I would never have a voice.

They lied.

We now have a seat at the table.

Not "the union," but I and my coworkers.

We negotiate a contract with that covers wages and working conditions.

Again, not "the union," but us, aided by a professional field rep whom we picked.

Because we are an autonomous local, we make our own decisions. 

Last Thursday I visited my hospital Chaplin, whom I have known for 21 years.

Sister Rita has spent a lot of days with me in the ER, comforting patients, families, and staff.

I asked her to bless me on that, my last day at the bedside, because after 21 years at the bedside as a PCT and RN, I was leaving to serve as your state federation executive Vice President.

Management wants to make "the union" some outside third party.

What I am saying is this.

I have walked your walk, not in some distant past but as recent as last week.

I have a voice.

My coworkers have a voice.

You will have a voice.

Open letter to Danbury and New Milford Hospital Healthcare Workers

My sisters and brothers of Danbury and New Milford Hospitals, This Friday is a historic day at your hospitals.  You will decide if you want to join your nurses and techs in gaining a voice in your workplace.  Think about that. YOU will decide.  Has that ever been given that chance before? Well, you have not been "given" it now either..........you have TAKEN it. You have taken it by standing together and being strong.  You have shown courage and solidarity against hospitals willing to use healthcare dollars on  union busters to spread lies and fear but that has not worked.  It didn't work when we organized 4 years ago at Backus Hospital in Norwich either.  We stood together and now we negotiate wages, benefits and working conditions.  They can no longer make changes or take away without negotiating.  Are things perfect today at Backus? No. But today, we speak freely and advocate for ourselves, our coworkers, our patients, our  community, and our hospital without fear. If you decide to join us on Friday, you will join 10,000 AFT healthcare workers in Connecticut,  29,000 AFT Connecticut members, and 1.6 million AFT national members in having a voice. You may ask, why do I care? I care because I have worked in a non union hospital and seen the changes after we  unionized. I care because have seen how "not for profit" hospitals have changed. I remember when "not for profit" didn't need quotations. I have seen how they have become corporations, not hospitals, who who treat their patients  like a product and their employees like an expense. I have seen the executives receive bonuses larger than some worker's annual income.  I have seen them spend hundreds of thousands of healthcare dollars on thugs and  embezzlers to work against their own employees.  It is your decision, for maybe the first time in your working lives, YOUR decision. Better than hope, I promise that never again will you stand alone. In Solidarity, John John Brady Backus Federation of Nurses, Retired President Executive Vice President Elect  AFT Connecticut

Danbury

God created the Saboth. 

Unions created the weekend. 

The reason for both is simple. 

We are called to fight for social justice and it is hard work. 

Those who stand against us seem to have unlimited resources and perhaps they do. When a hospital or other corporation fights itheir own workers the money they spend does not come from their own pockets nor the time from their own leisure. 

We are asked to do more with less. To take on more patients, more students, more productivity, while they line their pockets. 

Currently they are crying poverty and asking for tax breaks while they give themselves raises and bonuses. 

It must end and it must end now. 

It is time to put patients, students, taxpayers and workers before profits. 

That is why 900 healthcare workers at Dandury and New Milford Hospitals in Connecticut are fighting for their voice and why they are joined by their nurses and techs and the members of AFT Connecticut, AFT national and the AFL~CIO. 

My president, Jan, has ordered me on a few days of R+R with my wife Michelle. 

Michelle is extremely understanding of my union time but both she and Jan understand better than I that we are stronger if we occasionally rest. 

Jan and the rest of our leadership and staff are working on the campaign and I will be in Danbury this week. 

Our courageous brothers and sisters fight for a voice and we fight with them. 

Solidarity. 

Letter to my hospital coworkers

My Backus colleagues,

It has been an honor to work with you for the past 21 years, those whom I currently work with and those whom I have work with over all these years.

I take a part of you with me.

Our interactions have shaped me. 

We have laughed and cried and argued and made up. We have become brothers and sisters.

Perhaps those not in healthcare will not understand, I don't know.

I do know that what you do every day makes the world a better place. 

Whatever your role, your mission is to heal body and soul and the need to do so is a part of your body and soul. 

This is not limited to direct caregivers. It applies equally to those to keep our hospital clean and running and fed. 

It applies to all who arrive day after day and put patients first.

I leave you because I am called to something else. The lessons I have learned from you about advocating for others will be critical to the work I am called to do.  In fact, they have been vital to leading me to this new calling.

I'll miss not seeing you daily, but I will carry you in my heart.

In service and brotherhood,

John

A letter to my members on my retirement

Backus Nurses,

As you know, I have been elected Executive Vice President of AFT Connecticut.

I start that position on July 1.

I considered staying per diem, but I know only one way to commit myself to my new position, and that is to be available 24/7.

As a result, I will be retiring from Backus after 21 years in the emergency department.  

My last shift is this Thursday.

I will also need to retire as president of the Backus Federation of Nurses, I will do so this Wednesday night at our executive board meeting. At that time, Michelle Hayes will assume the duties of president per our constitution and bylaws, for the remainder of my term.

Michelle will be an excellent president.

We are blessed that Melissa Hunter has served as Vice President in the past and will be there to assist once again.

They are both great leaders and will be guided by an incredible executive board.

I will remain as a full dues paying member of the local.

This is an very exciting time for me.

I join a team of officers in President Jan Hochadel, First VP Jean Morningstar, and Secretary-Treasurer Ed Leavey, whom I admire and work well with.  We hope to do great things with the help and guidance of the AFT Connecticut Executive Committee and Council and the Local Presidents and members.

However, I also leave behind a large part of my life.  It has been both difficult and fulfilling to work at the bedside for these 21 years. I salute you for your commitment to this work.

When I agreed to run for Backus Federation president, I did so because I believed we could make a difference in the lives of our patients, our families, and our community.   

When Jan asked me to run and serve as her VP, I accepted the challenge because I believe in her and I believe our team can accomplish much for all our 29,000 members.

It has been an honor to serve on the organizing committee and as your president. I hope I have helped some of you find your voice.  I understand there is still so much work for us to do.  At times it seems like more than we could ever accomplish.  I ask you to look at what we have done in the past 4 years and recommit yourselves to your patients, your profession, and each other.

I hold you out to the other members of AFT Connecticut as an example of a group that has stood up for themselves and the people they serve. A group that has overcome many obstacles. 

The Backus nurses are as much a part of AFT as any of our 1.6 million members.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of that.

In solidarity and service,

John

If this is Wednesday, this must be DC

So...

Rearranged the work schedule, awoke at 3:00 am, and travelled to the AFT Executive Council and Program & Policy Council meeting.

If this is Wednesday, this must be DC.

I don't "officially" start the new gig till July 1 but there already seams to be a lot to do and a lot of people to meet with.

Jan, Jean, Ed and I will meet with a lot of the people we need to coordinate with both from Washington and across the nation, in order to best serve our members and the pupils, patients and public they care for.

We're lucky. We belong to a union of dedicated members and leaders and we have dedicated staff. We are united in our belief that this can be a nation that treats all with dignity and respect, a nation where we take care of one another.

After all, that's what educators, healers, and public servants do.

And that's why we're in DC again.