Cape Cod Nurses Protest For More Staffing, Higher Wages

HYANNIS, MA — Nurses protested outside Cape Cod Hospital Wednesday after contract negotiations stalled between Cape Cod Healthcare and the Massachusetts Nursing Association.

A union spokesperson said nurses are protesting for higher wages and more staffing to create safer working conditions. Specifically, union officials want Cape Cod Healthcare to hire charge nurses at both Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals to assist less experienced nurses with more complex patient conditions. The nurses wouldn't be assigned a specific floor and could help wherever is needed.

Patrick Kane, a spokesperson for Cape Cod Healthcare, told the Cape Cod Times that hospital officials have been in negotiations with the nurses union since Fall 2020. He described the negotiations as productive.

"We value the work and dedication our employees have shown during this national crisis," Kane told the Cape Cod Times. "We look forward to agreeing to contracts for CCH and FH that are fair to our nurses, patients, the communities, and that recognize the economic workforce staffing realities facing all hospitals."

But according to nurses in the Cape Cod Healthcare network, the praise hospital management gives nurses only goes as far as public statements.

"Cape Cod Healthcare executives call us heroes in public and pass out candy as a thank you but are actually disrespecting the care nurses provide by not agreeing to basic patient safety improvements we are seeking as part of a fair contract," said Michelle Brum, a nurse at Cape Cod Hospital.

"Falmouth Hospital nurses have put our own health and the safety of our families at risk during the pandemic to care for our patients," added Lauren Seitz, a nurse at Falmouth Hospital. "Cape Cod Healthcare executives are continuing to deny our contract proposals which would greatly improve safe staffing and patient care."

The union also scheduled a protest outside Falmouth Hospital for Wednesday, May 26.