MU Health changes concern union workers, Positions are being altered.

The headline above is from an article in the Columbia Tribune, published on May 6, 2013.  Read it here: http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/mu-health-changes-concern-union-workers/article_07a240da-b678-11e2-9e5a-10604b9f6eda.html 

 MU Health Care administrators are running a little pilot program.  They say they want to consolidate five positions into two:  unit clerk and nurse technician would become one position, while unit attendant, hospitality and patient care transporter would become another position.    The majority of the positions are in the union now, but the university wants both newly created jobs to be non-union.   They claim the proposed change is all about "...providing quality patient care" and "flexibility."  It sounds more like an attempt to save money by cutting the number of workers doing the same amount of work.    And to reduce the workers ability to negotiate for fair wages and benefits by forcing them out of the union.

Mary Jenkins, the MU public relations manager seems to confirm their real intent when she refuses to say how many of the positions will be filled.  If they don't plan to cut positions, why not just say so?  Then she says, "...employees who "opt out of consideration" or who are not selected for one of the new positions will get help from the human resources department in finding another job in the health system."

I have an idea.  In the interest of quality patient care and flexibility, MU Health Care should consolidate jobs in their PR department.   The employees there can all reapply for the new positions, which will require two to three times more work for the same pay.  If Ms. Jenkins is not selected for one if the new positions, she will get assistance from the HR department in finding another job in the health system.  Maybe she can get a job as a unit attendant/hospitality/patient care transporter.

 The people who work with the patients every day know more about providing quality patient care than any PR manager or hospital administrator.  If hospital administrators would ask the workers how they could improve patient care, I think they would get an earful.   It would be worth a try if patient care is really the priority.