As long-awaited collective bargaining was scheduled to begin, the University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center disciplined two nurses who had spoken out about poor conditions in the hospital, according to a press release from the United Health Professionals of New Mexico sent on Sept. 17.
After more than two years of public feuding, SRMC and the UHPNM division of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which represents UNM SRMC workers, were set to sit down together to resume good-faith bargaining on Sept. 18.
Just days before collective bargaining was scheduled to begin, however, UNM SRMC disciplined two nurses who had spoken out about poor conditions in the hospital, workers’ union officials said in a Sept. 17 press release.
UNM Health Sciences did not respond to an email seeking a response to the union’s claims.
Samantha Hines, an emergency room registered nurse, was given a three-day suspension on what the union called “trumped-up charges.”
Hines delivered a passionate, emotional plea for the hospital to find ways to improve conditions for both staff and patients while speaking at a UHPNM press conference outside of SRMC on Aug. 19. Less than two weeks later, Hines was issued a “notice of proposed termination” by SRMC, according to a UHPNM lawyer. Hines kept her job but was ultimately suspended.
The union said Jennifer Heckwine, also an emergency room RN, was put on administrative leave for “reporting that she had been repeatedly harassed and told that if she wants to continue to work at UNM SRMC, she must find a new position outside of the emergency room.”
“It’s outrageous that they would be disciplined for simply speaking up about serious problems at the hospital. And it’s especially ironic and frustrating that they have to leave the (emergency department) either temporarily or permanently when we know that there is a serious staffing shortage there that adversely affects ED patients,” union lawyer Shane Youtz said.
According to the UHPNM release, a Medicare survey found that SRMC’s ER wait time is nearly twice the national average and that 6% of UNM SRMC patients leave the ER without seeing a doctor.
Both nurses are on the union’s bargaining team.
Hines said she is discouraged about her suspension and the timing of it as collective bargaining begins.
“These disciplinary actions just show how important it will be to have a collective bargaining agreement so that workers can advocate for themselves and their patients under a binding agreement,” Hines said.
Heckwine said harassment has no place in any workplace.
“Any type of worker abuse or harassment should never be swept under the rug and result in disciplining the victim,” Heckwine said. “This hospital is having trouble recruiting and retaining health care professionals, and disciplinary actions like these only discourage people from working at UNM SRMC.”
Youtz said he will be amending a prohibited practice complaint for Hines that had charged the hospital with previously threatening to terminate her. It will now charge the hospital with illegally suspending her. He will also file a prohibited practice complaint concerning Heckwine’s banishment from the emergency department.