Members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association delivered a petition May 29 to management at Westfield-based Baystate Noble Hospital amid contract negotiations.
The petition calls for immediate action from management on agreeing to a fair contract that addresses what the union says are unsafe staffing conditions, alarming recruitment and retention challenges and stagnant pay.
"We call upon Baystate Health to prioritize the well-being of nurses and the quality of patient care by negotiating a fair contract that addresses these critical issues. Failure to act will compromise patient safety and the integrity of our hospital," the petition reads in part, according to a news release from the MNA.
Union representatives call on management to prioritize investments in Noble nursing staff, address challenges with hiring and keeping nurses at the hospital long term, and agree to fair and competitive pay.
Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health, the hospital's parent organization, shared the following statement with Becker's: "We are committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair agreement."
A union spokesperson told Becker's negotiations have been ongoing for seven sessions. The MNA represents about 100 nurses at Noble.