Although I eventually caught up, I was always one of the smallest in my class in grammar school. Partially because of that I was a target for bullies. We used to walk about a mile home from school and sometimes I would get pushed around by larger and older kids. One day, as this was happening, my Dad's car pulled up, he jumped out, and gave a tongue lashing to the bully. I don't remember my Dad and I speaking of it and I don't remember being picked on again.
My only fight ever in school happened a couple of years later when I stood up for a classmate who was repeatedly picked on by the class bully. The kid was what we would now call a nerd, he didn't stand a chance. The bully had issues, and to make himself bigger in his own eye and in the eyes of the other kids he would pick on this nerd on a regular basis. One day I had enough and told him to stop. That lead to a short fight between us that was more wrestling match than fight. I'm sure he had the best of it, and I'm ashamed to say I don't know how the nerd made out after that, but I gained the respect of the bully and my classmates.
At the same time, I was being taught in church and school to "turn the other cheek", to choose non violence.
To this day Gandhi, King and Jesus are my heroes.
This has caused me internal ethical conflict, and I wonder if others feel the same.
Then I heard an explanation that helped.
The Gospel of Matthew says,
"If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
At the time of Jesus, indeed even today in some parts of the world, only the right hand would be used to strike someone because the left hand was used for unclean purposes. So, striking someone on the right cheek would require a strike with the back of the hand. At that time striking someone deemed to be of a lower class with the back of the hand was used to assert authority and dominance. Today, we use the remark, "I'll give you a backhand" and "backhanded compliment" to mean much the same thing.
So, if after being struck in such a demeaning manner, the victim then turned and offered the other cheek, he would force the offender to strike with the open right hand, because using the left hand was forbidden. However, sticking with the open hand was something that was done as a challenge or a punch and was seen as a statement of equality.
Thus, by turning the other cheek the persecuted was in effect demanding equality.
When seen in this way, "turn the other cheek" is far from a passive, submissive statement, it is a statement to demand respect and fair treatment in a nonviolent way.
When I study the lives of Gandhi and King it is obvious that they understood it in this way.
When I study the life of Jesus it is obvious that he believed in nonviolence, but he equally believed in the dignity of each person, and he was far from passive, he challenged authority and he challenged their thinking and way of acting.
So, in this light, the actions of my Dad and the lessons I learned are consistent with what I was taught.
Violence is to be avoided, conflict is not.
It is noble to stand up against that which denies dignity and respect and fairness but it is just as important how you do it.
I like to think that I follow these giants
down the path they blazed and that I will do my part. When it is my turn, I plan
to stand firm when struck and turn the other cheek. I pray I have the strength to do so.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Negotiation Update, 1/27/12
You know the background. We voted to join together as a union May 11, to gain a voice for ourselves and our patients and to demand the respect we deserve.
In August we gave management an entire contract proposal. They have had 8 months to adapt to the idea that we are standing up for ourselves, 6 months to consider our proposal and let us know what they think and where they stand.
They promised to come to us this week with economic proposals, something they had not done after 8 months.We met twice this week, for 12 hours.
They responded to our August proposals on shift and weekend differentials, on call status, charge pay, bereavement, jury/court appearance, FMLA, and military leave.
Most of these are current policies.
We can agree to jury/court appearance and charge pay. The rest need clarification and/or more negotiating.
They did not respond to our August proposals on overtime, holidays, sick time, dependent care days, wellness days, child care center, personal leave, disability leave, vacations, tuition reimbursement, insurance, pension, 403B, or wages.
After 8 months of us organizing and 6 months of negotiations we are no closer to knowing where they stand on these issues.
To be honest, I don't know if THEY know where they stand.
What does this mean?
There are two thoughts that come to mind.
Either they are still intent on busting our union or they hope to stall long enough that we tire and accept whatever they are willing to propose.
Either they are still intent on busting our union or they hope to stall long enough that we tire and accept whatever they are willing to propose.
I'm getting mixed messages. On the one hand they have hired a new human resources director who has successfully worked with a union at another hospital and but then they announced a new vice president/chief nursing officer who is on record as being strongly anti-union.
What are our options?
I see 3.
1. Accept whatever they propose.
2. Strike for what we deserve.
3. Engage is organizing actions.
Number 1 is unacceptable,
2 is something none of us want and is not being considered at this time.
That leaves us with number 3.
(commercials, reaching out to board member, doctors, the community, other union brothers and sisters, our political friends, and attending negotiations and rallies)
We have to remember that EVERYONE HAS A BOSS. The hospital lawyer and the hospital negotiation's team answer to the CEO and he answers to the board of directors. In practice the board should answer to the community.
We have a responsibility to stand up for ourselves, our families, our patients and our community.
We will fulfill that responsibility.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Food Drives
A couple of recent newspaper articles caught my attention.
One was in the Diocese of Norwich's monthly paper, Four County Catholic and the other was in the Norwich Bulletin.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development unveiled a new initiative, the Poverty USA campaign, to promote a better understanding of poverty in America.
According to the U S bishops' conference 15% of Americans and nearly 25% of children live in poverty.
Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, who leads the new effort, notes the widespread scourge of poverty in America and the importance of finding solidarity with those who struggle in any capacity.
"We march with immigrant families toward a society made stronger and safer by their inclusion," he said. "We embrace the mother and her unborn child, giving both of them hope and opportunity." "We measure our own health by the quality of care we give to those most vulnerable. We labor with those whose work is burdensome."
At the same time an article appeared in the Bulletin about a severe food shortage at the St Vincent de Paul food pantry in Norwich.
I contacted Dan Durant, community outreach organizer for AFT CT, asking if we could help.
We have already done a food drive with the United Way and a blood pressure screening at St Mary's in New London and Dan coordinates these for us.
I was not the only one who noticed, as evident by the following that also appeared in the Bulletin.
Many thanks to the kind and generous people of Norwich and the greater Norwich area. After an article describing the shortages of food at St. Vincent de Paul Place appeared in The Bulletin, you repeated the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Food has been coming in — and just in time. Thank you.
The article did not mention a most valued partner agency, the Gemma Moran Food Center run by United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, the backbone of the fight against hunger in our region. They are the largest single source of food for St. Vincent's. Each week, we get close to 3,000 pounds of food from the center in New London — that's two pickup trucks filled to overflowing. Not recognizing their help was like not acknowledging our right-hand man. Thank you again and God bless.
CORINNE KELLY
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Harold Lindner Food Pantry coordinator, St. Vincent de Paul Place.
As Bishop Soto said, "We measure our own health by the quality of care we give to those most vulnerable. We labor with those whose work is burdensome."
We have a fundamental responsibility to help our fellow man, as health care workers we have an even greater responsibility.
We cannot cure all the ills of society, but we can do our part.
The 4 AFT locals at L+M and Backus will hold food drives with the United Way to help out.
January 28, Groton Stop and Shop, 9-2 (the 3 L+M locals)
February 4, Norwich Stop and Shop 9-2 (Backus Federation of Nurses)
One was in the Diocese of Norwich's monthly paper, Four County Catholic and the other was in the Norwich Bulletin.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development unveiled a new initiative, the Poverty USA campaign, to promote a better understanding of poverty in America.
According to the U S bishops' conference 15% of Americans and nearly 25% of children live in poverty.
Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, who leads the new effort, notes the widespread scourge of poverty in America and the importance of finding solidarity with those who struggle in any capacity.
"We march with immigrant families toward a society made stronger and safer by their inclusion," he said. "We embrace the mother and her unborn child, giving both of them hope and opportunity." "We measure our own health by the quality of care we give to those most vulnerable. We labor with those whose work is burdensome."
At the same time an article appeared in the Bulletin about a severe food shortage at the St Vincent de Paul food pantry in Norwich.
I contacted Dan Durant, community outreach organizer for AFT CT, asking if we could help.
We have already done a food drive with the United Way and a blood pressure screening at St Mary's in New London and Dan coordinates these for us.
I was not the only one who noticed, as evident by the following that also appeared in the Bulletin.
Many thanks to the kind and generous people of Norwich and the greater Norwich area. After an article describing the shortages of food at St. Vincent de Paul Place appeared in The Bulletin, you repeated the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Food has been coming in — and just in time. Thank you.
The article did not mention a most valued partner agency, the Gemma Moran Food Center run by United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, the backbone of the fight against hunger in our region. They are the largest single source of food for St. Vincent's. Each week, we get close to 3,000 pounds of food from the center in New London — that's two pickup trucks filled to overflowing. Not recognizing their help was like not acknowledging our right-hand man. Thank you again and God bless.
CORINNE KELLY
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Harold Lindner Food Pantry coordinator, St. Vincent de Paul Place.
As Bishop Soto said, "We measure our own health by the quality of care we give to those most vulnerable. We labor with those whose work is burdensome."
We have a fundamental responsibility to help our fellow man, as health care workers we have an even greater responsibility.
We cannot cure all the ills of society, but we can do our part.
The 4 AFT locals at L+M and Backus will hold food drives with the United Way to help out.
January 28, Groton Stop and Shop, 9-2 (the 3 L+M locals)
February 4, Norwich Stop and Shop 9-2 (Backus Federation of Nurses)
If you can help out for an hour or so please let us know. If you can stop by and donate food, please do.
Together we can make a difference.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The gloves are off
| We voted May 11 to form a union. We started negotiating in August and gave management a complete contract proposal. Management has had 8 months to come to grips with the fact that we are a union and get serious about negotiating with us. To date they have refused to discuss any economic issues, nothing about pay, sick time, vacations, holidays, benefits, insurance, nothing! They continue to want to talk about nothing but "nuts and bolts" issues, about how the union/management relationship will function. Now, this is important, but 8 months! Come on. We unionized because we want a voice and we want respect. Management continues to deny us that voice, that respect. They will not negotiate with mutual respect, they will not even agree to call us by our chosen name, the Backus Federation of Nurses, in the contract. Why? What are they up to? I cannot read their minds but one real possibility is that they wish to stall long enough so that we give up. Enough is enough! We gave them time to negotiate with respect and they have failed to do so. Now we must stand up for ourselves and demand respect. It will not be easy. I am a nurse, not an activist, but it is not only us and our families that suffer when we are disrespected, it is our patients, our community, and our hospital. We've been extremely patient, the gloves are now off........or, since we're nurses, maybe I should say the gloves are on! |
Friday, January 20, 2012
Backus employees know the truth
Oh really?
Then why did I just get word through a friend at the Norwich Bulletin that one of their editors is writing an editorial denouncing our recent telephone survey as being not fact based and bias? Could it be because David Whitehead's last job was at the Bulletin?
Here is the truth.
Our poll was an independent poll by Benchmark Polling Group. The Benchmark Polling Group conducts independent, scientific polls. They are a unionized business. It is the labor community's policy to use unionized businesses whenever possible.
The poll showed what we nurses already knew.
1. Backus employees feel that they are not listened to by management.
2. Backus employees know that "Pay for Performance" is a sham, it does not judge job performance at all.
3. Backus employees are not happy with their current Health Insurance plan.
4. Backus employees have had pay and benefits cut while upper management has received 28% salary increases.
5. Backus patient's have felt the pain of decreased services and supplies in an effort to save money.
I don't know if the paper will run this editorial. If it does, remember this.....Backus employees know the truth.
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