For Immediate Release
August 6, 2024
Adrienne Enghouse
enghousea@yahoo.com
503-810-4489
SANDOVAL, N.M.—The University of New Mexico said it would provide wage increases to all of its hospital staff except those who are members of the unionized UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center.
“This is a crass and petty ploy to get us to forsake our union, but we won’t be bought off. Having a union means fighting for a contract that includes not only wages that workers deserve, but also provisions to improve the quality of patient care and working conditions,” said Adrienne Enghouse, organizer for the United Health Professionals of New Mexico.
CEO Kate Becker recently promised all UNM hospital employees a 3 percent wage hike, except for the nurses and other health professionals who are unionized at UNM Sandoval RMC. The union was legally formed more than two years ago, and since then, has been fighting to get to the bargaining table. The hospital has filed numerous lawsuits in an effort to keep the union out.
“We know that when nurses have to handle a dangerously high patient load, perform conscious sedation in the halls and are forced to do other things that endanger patients, we know we need a contract that improves conditions,” Enghouse said. “A hospital that receives poor ratings on quality patient conditions from national organizations should want to work with the frontline staff to make sure patients get the care they need.”
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