A Message from the President
Dear Spring Harbor Hospital Colleagues,
At Spring Harbor, we have built a patient-first culture on a foundation of teamwork, flexibility, communication and collaboration. This is who we are as a team of caregivers dedicated to the well-being of the people and communities we serve.
As you may know, a labor union has been working to unionize Spring Harbor nurses. This raises the question of the kind of working environment you want, and whether you are comfortable bringing in an outside party represent you. The union is Maine State Nurses Association – an affiliate of National Nurses United, a national union based in California that is behind many of the healthcare strikes we’ve seen during the pandemic and before.
NNU is well known for its confrontational approach to unionization that often includes protests, strikes and other efforts to drive a wedge between nurses, hospitals and the communities they serve. Knowing this, I think first about how a union might impact our model of collaboration and professionalism, which is key to providing the specialty care we offer.
Moreover, bringing in a labor union like NNU would change the way we work. Union contracts put standardization ahead of individuality and performance, in many cases applying a one-size-fits-all approach to most matters relating to pay and work, including general policies and processes.
What would that mean for us? For one, we would not be able to allow the flexibility that now offers individual units opportunities to decide ways they work best together, manage the schedule and get time off.
One thing I respect most about our nurses is your professionalism, pride and fierce advocacy for what you believe is best for our patients. Under a union, the union speaks for you on all matters related to pay, benefits and working conditions. That means you would have to go to the union before you could speak with your manager on many issues, adding complexity and potential conflict to situations we are now able to address.
We are a mission-driven organization made up of great people who are here because you have a special calling. We’re at our best when we can work directly together as professionals, as a team, with a shared focus on our patients. That, to me, is something worth preserving.
If you speak with union representatives who are reaching out to you seeking your support, please consider that request with a full understanding of what unionization could mean for you. This website is a great place to start. It provides information about your rights under the National Labor Relations Act as well as facts that will help you make an informed decision.
You might be approached by a union organizer or colleague asking you to sign a card or electronic form that “authorizes” the union to represent you. That card is a legal document the union could use to claim your support.
Remember, you have a legal right to make your own choice about union representation, free from pressure or intimidation, and based on facts and your personal beliefs. If you are not interested, you can simply say “no thanks” and ask to be left alone.
Thank you for taking the time to visit. I hope you remain open to learning more and asking any questions you may have.
On behalf of the leadership team, thank you.
Mary Jane Krebs, RN, MA, FACHE
President, Spring Harbor Hospital
Interim CNO, Maine Behavioral Healthcare