BGH, nurses enter into mediation

SANDPOINT — Bonner General Hospital and the union representing its nursing staff are calling upon a federal mediator in hopes of resolving an ongoing contractual stalemate.

The nurses’ contract expired at the end of May and they have been working under a contract extension that ends once either side gives 72-hours notice of cancellation, said Val Holstrom, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local No. 690.

Holstrom said the union and the hospital’s administration have met more than 20 times since labor negotiations began in June, but have been unable to finalize an agreement.

“We’ve worked through many language issues and we’re down to some work rules and compensation,” said Holstrom.

Bonner General Chief Executive Officer Sheryl Rickard is “extremely hopeful” that the mediation will result in a contract, but said she could not discuss the discuss the negotiations.

“I can’t talk about what’s going on at the table,” Rickard said.

The mediation is set for Oct. 29-30.

“Our expectation is to have a fully-recommended offer that both the hospital and the nurses can agree with and then we’ll vote the membership,” Holstrom said.

The union represents approximately 100 nurses at the hospital. The contract under negotiation is the third accord in the last five years.

Holstrom said the hospital is seeking additional hours from the nurses, which they’re willing to provide as long as they don’t lose ground on a wages-and-benefits package. Holstrom said non-union employees at the hospital were given a 2-percent raise around the time of the contract’s expiration.

“We’re not asking for anything more than what they’ve done for everybody else,” Holstrom said.

Holstrom added that the nurses have little desire to jump ship due to the quality of life that Bonner County affords and their commitment to patient care in the community.

“They want to be able to afford to live in Sandpoint and not have to seek work at a higher-paying hospital because the people generally love the community and they love working at the hospital,” said Holstrom. “But you have to be able to afford to live where you work.”