Chambersburg Hospital workers to light candles for support in contract talks

[from the poor house]

What time does the PITY PARTY on the square start?

[Burtin Commings]

It is ignorant people like yourselves that have comments about they get to much while you sit there and eat and get fatter and sick and expect some nurst to lift all 600 pounds of your fat self. There is little backbone and to much mouth.
Medical insurance and 100 percent is a thing of he past do some research before you open your mouth, the health care is falling apart, there is no shortage of nurses all of that is a lie, there is many nursing positions but the company does not want to hire experienced ones. They want to hire new nurses that have no experience and pay them dirt. Next time you get sick think about that when you get admitted, also would you like to have the responsability of someones life? What would you like to get paid, I bet you would run away if you had to change a dirty diaper, What price is enough working with the chance of being infected. The only people making money are The big Ceos, this is no different than our falling apart country. If you would quit crying and drinking and stand up to the issues more would be acomplished.

[wildone]

Brownie wrote:

The hospital employees have the "best" medical plan in the area, as well as the best of all benefits in the area. The hospital employees are among the highest paid health care employees in the area. The hospital employees are among the very few people who enjoy a fixed pension plan in the area. The hospital employees are among the most "out of touch" employees in the area when it comes to working in the real world. The hospital employees need to understand they will get very little support from the residents in the area. The hospital employees need to abandon the efforts of an elite few in power of their union and accept a very fair contract.

The employees at CH do work in the "real world". Let's see you work 8 to 12 hours a day then be on call for the next 16 hours then work your next shift. This the real world.

[wildone]

from the poor house wrote:

What time does the PITY PARTY on the square start?

If your from the poor house it's your fault.

[wildone]

Embedded Citizen wrote:

Yet again, another UNION Cluster Foxtrot. Do away with the UNION and problem resolves itself.

Do away with the UNION and you will get poor health care.

[RN in PA]

Don't judge until you've walked a mile in there shoes. I walked a year in there shoes and that was admittedly the toughest job I have ever had. It is very demanding: physically and mentally. There are a lot of great nurses over there and they deserve to be treated fairly. They are not spoiled.

ickyyack wrote:

LOL ... welcome to the Real World.
Cosnider yourself nowadays, if you even HAVE a 401 or individual retirement account.
They sound pretty spoiled to me.

[RN in PA]

There IS a nursing shortage. Every where I've worked has been under staffed and I don't know of any nurse on unemployment. As a matter of fact I get cards in the mail asking me to come apply. I agree these nurses work hard because I was one of them but I also know they pay the price because of the nursing shortage.

Burtin Commings wrote:

It is ignorant people like yourselves that have comments about they get to much while you sit there and eat and get fatter and sick and expect some nurst to lift all 600 pounds of your fat self. There is little backbone and to much mouth.
Medical insurance and 100 percent is a thing of he past do some research before you open your mouth, the health care is falling apart, there is no shortage of nurses all of that is a lie, there is many nursing positions but the company does not want to hire experienced ones. They want to hire new nurses that have no experience and pay them dirt. Next time you get sick think about that when you get admitted, also would you like to have the responsability of someones life? What would you like to get paid, I bet you would run away if you had to change a dirty diaper, What price is enough working with the chance of being infected. The only people making money are The big Ceos, this is no different than our falling apart country. If you would quit crying and drinking and stand up to the issues more would be acomplished.

[anon]

wife wrote:

<quoted text> I know for a fact it is not a 100% paid health plan I have the bills to prove it.

There is a difference between 100% paid health insurance and 100% coverage. Everyone has co-pays and deductibles. I don't know of any employer that pays 100% of your health insurance and it does not require a co-payment or deductible. LOL

[bug]

peanutbrittle wrote:

Hey I want a free health club/gym membership (at Results, interestingly enough, owned and run BY the Hospital), just like the high and mighty management folks at CH have.
That's worth about a grand a year right there for any working family.
That's just one of many goodies these folks receive.

employees do not get a free membership to results--there is a discount, but not a substantial one---I know many employees who go to other gyms because it is a better deal!!

[ApparentlyAWhine rRN]

First off, I'd like to say that at this point in our world anyone who works should have a say in their workplace. Whether that workplace be a fast food vendor, a gas station, or (God forbid) a hospital. When an employer takes something away from you that you've been working for and contributing to for years, would you be upset or would you just sit back and say "Oh well, I can go somewhere else"? I think probably the former.
As a nurse, I try to never let my patients lack for anything. Be it a warm blanket or perhaps the lifesaving medications to stop the heart attack they are having. Why is it that you people think we are less than you? Not a one of you who have nasty things to say about RN's or hospital workers have ever had to sit and tell a parent that their child will never wake up, or sit with a family on Christmas Eve and grieve with them for the loss of their mother. This is not a 'job' for me and my fellow workers. This is my life, my way to give what I know and help people.
How can you sit there and say that we don't deserve what we had? We went into this knowing what we had! We had it written in stone and photocopied hundreds of times just to be sure we knew what we had. Now we don't. If you want me to go somewhere else and apply my trade and my compassion to someone else, someone perhaps deserving of my care, you need to give up. I will not be going anywhere. I love my career, I love my community, and God help me, I love taking care of people who have no sympathy for others, because it's my life to do so. I will continue to work in my hospital because I want to, not because I need to, and how dare you try to condemn me and my hospital coworkers for trying to stand up for what we know is right. If you don't know what's on the table for our negotations you have NO RIGHT TO CALL US OUT OF TOUCH. How many of you work the 12-16 hour shifts and have to be as sharp as the 1st hour you were there? That's right, not many. You all need to remember exactly what you wrote the next time you step foot into that hospital. Would you rather have the nurse who's there because she has to be and can't find anything better and treats you like a piece of nothing, or someone who cares about what she/he does and will treat you like you want to be treated?

[Mag]

Very well said! I am a CH employee,and ppl should understand what is really going on before speaking.

CburgIsFullOfComplainers wrote:

<quoted text>
That's part of the problem. They DID know the retirement plan that was provided when they started, and the hospital is trying to yank it out from under any of them that aren't 60 or have certain age/years of service combos that would virtually exclude most of the workers under 45.
I'd be careful about creating an environment that many people would want to walk from. For the health care industry you can't use the same argument that so many use for say, teachers (if you don't like the pay, leave! We have plenty of new grads that are eager to take your place!). There is a shortage of medical workers, and if you invite them all to walk to go to Hagerstown, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, etc., who will you have then? You'd simply have a bunch of local yokles self medicating with Dr. Jack Daniels I guess!

[Mag]

no it isnt 100 percent paid.i work at the CH.we all have deductables..now they want to double the co-pays including prescriptions.

anon wrote:

<quoted text>
There is a difference between 100% paid health insurance and 100% coverage. Everyone has co-pays and deductibles. I don't know of any employer that pays 100% of your health insurance and it does not require a co-payment or deductible. LOL

[Mag]

The CH is a non profit organization,yet they earned a whopping 19 million last year after all taxes and expenses were paid. They want to take from the employees but yet take nothing from the CEO and management,in fact I bet those in management will profit even more as the rest of us get less. If I knew that CEO Norm Epstein was taking a pay cut from his $300,000.00 plus paycheck then I would feel a little better.19 million..come on we deserve a little better. I'm not asking for more,just not less,leave it alone.

[Mag]

very well said..I forone appreciate the hard working nurses and other hospital staff..keep it up:)

ApparentlyAWhinerRN wrote:

First off, I'd like to say that at this point in our world anyone who works should have a say in their workplace. Whether that workplace be a fast food vendor, a gas station, or (God forbid) a hospital. When an employer takes something away from you that you've been working for and contributing to for years, would you be upset or would you just sit back and say "Oh well, I can go somewhere else"? I think probably the former.
As a nurse, I try to never let my patients lack for anything. Be it a warm blanket or perhaps the lifesaving medications to stop the heart attack they are having. Why is it that you people think we are less than you? Not a one of you who have nasty things to say about RN's or hospital workers have ever had to sit and tell a parent that their child will never wake up, or sit with a family on Christmas Eve and grieve with them for the loss of their mother. This is not a 'job' for me and my fellow workers. This is my life, my way to give what I know and help people.
How can you sit there and say that we don't deserve what we had? We went into this knowing what we had! We had it written in stone and photocopied hundreds of times just to be sure we knew what we had. Now we don't. If you want me to go somewhere else and apply my trade and my compassion to someone else, someone perhaps deserving of my care, you need to give up. I will not be going anywhere. I love my career, I love my community, and God help me, I love taking care of people who have no sympathy for others, because it's my life to do so. I will continue to work in my hospital because I want to, not because I need to, and how dare you try to condemn me and my hospital coworkers for trying to stand up for what we know is right. If you don't know what's on the table for our negotations you have NO RIGHT TO CALL US OUT OF TOUCH. How many of you work the 12-16 hour shifts and have to be as sharp as the 1st hour you were there? That's right, not many. You all need to remember exactly what you wrote the next time you step foot into that hospital. Would you rather have the nurse who's there because she has to be and can't find anything better and treats you like a piece of nothing, or someone who cares about what she/he does and will treat you like you want to be treated?

[wife]

j and j wrote:

If you don't like the pay plan, drive to Gettysburg, Hagerstown, Carlisle, Harrisburg, or somewhere else. Were you not aware of the compensation and retirement plans when you started working there?

Yes we were aware of the compensation and retirement plans. But that is the problem they want to take the good ones we had away. And if you don't like your pay plan, drive from Gettysburg, Hagerstown, Carlisle, Harrisburg or somewhere else and get the big sign on bonus and give them years of your life and then nothing else in return. And the sign on bonus is only for the medical staff (Nursing) so if you are CNA, Housekeeper, Laundry, Dietary, Lab or any other department that the Hospital could not run with out you just give years of service for nothing in return.

[wife]

peanutbrittle wrote:

Hey "wife":
Awwwww.
So, just how many employers ARE paying 100% nowadays?? Are you complaining because your bills are NOT fully covered at 100%?
It sure sounds like it.
Be thankful you have what you have.
"Any one who says the Hospital has a great benifit package does not work there. There insurance is terrible for a Health Care Facility. They do not pay 100% and I have bills to prove it."

I am not complaining because my bills are NOT fully covered. I am just trying to let you and people like you who know nothing of what they are talking about that saying our insurance is 100% is false. Get the facts and figures before you speak.

[nurse]

ditto...thank you for saying perfectly what was on my mind.

Mag wrote:

very well said..I forone appreciate the hard working nurses and other hospital staff..keep it up:)
<quoted text>

[nurse]

Bravo. Well put.

ApparentlyAWhinerRN wrote:

First off, I'd like to say that at this point in our world anyone who works should have a say in their workplace. Whether that workplace be a fast food vendor, a gas station, or (God forbid) a hospital. When an employer takes something away from you that you've been working for and contributing to for years, would you be upset or would you just sit back and say "Oh well, I can go somewhere else"? I think probably the former.
As a nurse, I try to never let my patients lack for anything. Be it a warm blanket or perhaps the lifesaving medications to stop the heart attack they are having. Why is it that you people think we are less than you? Not a one of you who have nasty things to say about RN's or hospital workers have ever had to sit and tell a parent that their child will never wake up, or sit with a family on Christmas Eve and grieve with them for the loss of their mother. This is not a 'job' for me and my fellow workers. This is my life, my way to give what I know and help people.
How can you sit there and say that we don't deserve what we had? We went into this knowing what we had! We had it written in stone and photocopied hundreds of times just to be sure we knew what we had. Now we don't. If you want me to go somewhere else and apply my trade and my compassion to someone else, someone perhaps deserving of my care, you need to give up. I will not be going anywhere. I love my career, I love my community, and God help me, I love taking care of people who have no sympathy for others, because it's my life to do so. I will continue to work in my hospital because I want to, not because I need to, and how dare you try to condemn me and my hospital coworkers for trying to stand up for what we know is right. If you don't know what's on the table for our negotations you have NO RIGHT TO CALL US OUT OF TOUCH. How many of you work the 12-16 hour shifts and have to be as sharp as the 1st hour you were there? That's right, not many. You all need to remember exactly what you wrote the next time you step foot into that hospital. Would you rather have the nurse who's there because she has to be and can't find anything better and treats you like a piece of nothing, or someone who cares about what she/he does and will treat you like you want to be treated?

[concerned]

maybe if some of you fat assed Nascar huntin' fans got some further education, you too could get a better payin' job. Come-on Pa, get off your artery clogged ass and do something...