Now comes word, from The Morning Call's Anthony Salamone, that the County has now found itself at the wrong end of an unfair labor practice determination, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. This is on basically the same issue, but involves about 50 nursers. They are represented by the Steelworkers Union, headed up by Mean Jerry Green.
Green tells me that the nurses have gone without a contract since 2010.
He expected differently. When he was running for executive, John Brown promised Jerry that he'd meet with him if he was elected. When that happened, Jerry called for an appointment. But Brown was going on vacation, and told him to call later. Jerry did, and has yet to sit down with Brown.
The person he has been dealing with is none other than Cathy Allen, Brown's most trusted ally in his administration. She was so inexperienced when it came to human relations that she actually thought she could punish corrections officers who have already been disciplined once for an offense. She has been at the county helm in negotiations with Jerry, and has been attempting to go backwards.
Incidentally, tha pay for a registered nurse with no seniority is about $23.75. Guess what it is for a registered nurse with ten years? $23.75. Guess what it is for a registered nurse with 20 years? $23.75. That's about $10 per hour below the average wage paid to registered nurses in Pa.
That's why Gracedale can't keep nurses, according to Jerry.
When Allen began negotiating, she actually wanted to go backwards, just like she wanted to impose multiple punishments for the same offense at the jail. A person who makes that kind of basic error would think nothing of unilaterally reducing benefits without consulting the union.
When you look at the ruling, check out the procedural history. The County was obviously dragging its feet.
The County has been directed to start bargaining in good faith. The ruling below should be posted conspicuoulsy. The County has 20 days to reinstate the health care benefits it unilaterally eliminated.
