We believe in being transparent and accurate. We believe the collective voice is stronger than the individual voice. We believe everyone in our union deserves to have our voices included. Unfortunately, numerous public comments from the University of New Mexico Hospital/UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center and an Aug. 22 email from UNM SRMC President Jamie Silva-Steele are misleading and contain deliberate distortions of the truth regarding the ongoing negotiations between UNM Hospital/UNM SRMC and the United Health Professionals of New Mexico, an affiliate of the AFT.
Deliberate False Claim #1
Employees at UNM SRMC are not getting the raise received by other employees “because of the union.”
Fact:
We sent a proposal on Aug. 19 agreeing to allow UNM SRMC to give all the employees the 3% raise NOW. On Aug. 22, we again proposed that UNM SRMC give all employees the 3% raise NOW. Here is our proposal sent on Aug. 19:
In recognition of the ongoing staffing crisis at UNM SRMC, which has led to unsustainable working conditions, increased reliance on costly agency and traveler nurses, and unsafe patient healing conditions reflected in low safety ratings from Medicare and other respected organizations, the Parties agree to the following wage increase as a necessary but insufficient step toward addressing the staffing crisis:
Effective the first entire pay period following execution of this Agreement, all employees who are members of the UHPNM bargaining unit certified by the New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board shall receive a permanent 3% wage increase to their regular hourly rate.
Furthermore, the Parties agree to bargain immediately on patient healing conditions, wages, and benefits.
Agreed:
Date:
UNITED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OF NEW MEXICO, AFT, AFL-CIO
Date:
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO for its public operations known as THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HOSPITAL, specifically including SANDOVAL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Deliberate False Claim #2
“We want this union leadership to meet us at the bargaining table.” —Kate Becker, CEO, UNM Hospitals
Fact:
The union had offered to meet Aug. 23 at the bargaining table. But UNM SRMC didn’t come. This is a copy of our email to UNMH/UNM SRMC asking to bargain starting Aug. 23 and to bargain until we reach an agreement.
*FYI: We changed the bargaining location in order to be closer to UNM SRMC and notified UNM SRMC of the location change. Unfortunately, they have failed to respond to our request to bargain. But we will be at the NEW location (see the address in the email below).
Deliberate False Claim #3
For the fifth time in the past year, the union has rejected UNM SRMC’s offer to negotiate a contract on behalf of the regular employees the union seeks to represent.
Fact:
UNM SRMC has NEVER offered to negotiate for ALL the regular employees. All UNM SRMC’s offers to bargain require the union to exclude SOME “regular employees” from the bargaining table. Here is UNM SRMC’s Aug. 21 offer to bargain:
Deliberate False Claim #4
By law, PRN employees cannot be represented by unions.
Fact:
The New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board ruled that New Mexico statute allows unions to represent PRNs. Here is a copy of the order directing UNM SRMC to include PRNs in the union.
Deliberate False Claim #5
PRN employees are freelance temporary employees and not regular hospital employees as defined by law.
Fact:
Actually, the opposite is true. The New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board ruled the PRNs are regular employees. Here is a copy of the order directing UNM SRMC to include PRNs in the bargaining unit.
Deliberate False Claim #6
UNM SRMC is not legally required to bargain with PRNs.
Fact:
The district court has already determined that the labor board’s order requiring UNM SRMC to bargain over PRNs is a lawful “enforceable order.” Below is a copy of the District Court’s order denying UNM SRMC’s request to not fulfill its duty to bargain over PRNs:
Our union has been steadfast in its efforts to get you the 3% NOW and to negotiate on behalf of ALL the regular employees we represent, including those PRNs, and our patients’ healing conditions—despite the obstacles put forth by UNM SRMC.
Despite all challenges, we remain committed to our members and to the patients we serve.
We call on UNM SRMC to give the 3% NOW and to meet us at the bargaining table starting immediately.
We urge our fellow UHPNM members to stand united and demand that management show up and bargain in good faith.
Our patients, our community and our healthcare heroes deserve better. We will not let UNM SRMC’s misleading tactics deter us.
This is a revision of a letter sent to members of United Health Professionals of New Mexico. Some information has been changed or redacted for privacy and accuracy.
Source: UNM press release: https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2024/08/hsc-newsroom-post-srmc-union.html