Milford Nurses Want Union, Say Concerns 'Fallen On Deaf Ears'

MILFORD, MA — Nurses at Milford Regional Medical Center this week filed noticed with the federal National Labor Relations Board that they intend to join the Massachusetts Nursing Association (MNA) union, citing the need for increased protections amid the coronavirus pandemic.

About 550 nurses at the hospital would join the MNA, which represents about 23,000 nurses across the region. The Milford nurses say they have raised concerns about patient and nurse safety during the coronavirus pandemic, but haven't been able to make headway with hospital leaders.

"We are experts in caring for patients, and we need a true voice in how we do our work. We have tried to speak up from inside the hospital, and we have used all the channels available to try to make change from within," Milford Regional nurse Sara Burton said in a statement. "It hasn't worked — time and time again, decisions are made for us, not with us."

In March, the nurses confronted the hospital's chief nursing officer about their concerns. A committee set up to handle coronavirus safety was disbanded, the MNA said.

The nurses' concerns include access to personal protective equipment, on-the-job coronavirus testing and the need for a coronavirus triage station in the emergency department. The nurses also say managers are not staffing the hospital appropriately, mixing nurses from different departments and creating the risk of virus transmission.

"Our input is essential to the efficiency, safety and quality of patient care," maternity ward nurse Michelle Elise said in an MNA statement. "To date, our efforts to be heard on these issues have fallen on deaf ears. I want to work for an organization that functionally demonstrates the values of safety and excellence in patient care above all."

Milford Regional Vice President of Public Relations Terri McDonald did not respond to the unionization effort directly, but did say the hospital is following coronavirus guidelines set by the state and federal governments.

"As is the case with all healthcare systems, extraordinary effort has been made at Milford Regional to provide staff with PPE that adheres to the CDC and DPH guidelines," McDonald said in a statement. "During this incredibly challenging time, we are proud of everyone on our Milford Regional team as they work together to ensure the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve."

The next step for the Milford Regional nurses will be to hold an election to pick the MNA as their bargaining representative.