To: Eileen Whalen, University of Vermont Medical Center President and John Brumsted, Chief Executive Officer of The University of Vermont Medical Center
Support UVM Medical Center Nurses
We stand in solidarity with the nurses of the University of Vermont Medical Center. It’s time for the medical center’s executives to listen to the people on the frontlines of patient care—at the bedsides—and demonstrate that they value our nurses’ work, professionalism, and commitment to the healing mission of this institution.
Why is this important?
The University of Vermont Medical Center has refused to bargain in good faith and has used intimidation tactics targeted at these nurses, who are bargaining for the resources they need to provide high-quality care to their community.
The UVM Medical Center is the largest hospital in Vermont, which ranks 47th among the states in nurse pay levels. Because of this, the hospital is consistently understaffed—at this point, there are as many as 172 vacancies. Wages and staffing levels have become the focus of bargaining because our union members understand that more resources are essential for the medical center to be able to recruit and retain nurses.
It is just plain wrong for the medical center to spend its growing revenues on satellite campuses and million-dollar executive salaries while leaving staffing and wages for the nurses who care for the people of Burlington at subpar levels.
We need to send a message to those in charge and let them know that patient care—and those who provide it—should never take a back seat. The UVM Medical Center has expanded its operations, and its revenue continues to grow. The hospital is doing well because of its staff. It’s time for the hospital’s executives to demonstrate that they care for the people who provide the patient care that Burlington relies on.