Local 5138 Member Update, May 9, 2025: Staffing Ratios, Wages, and What Comes Next

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s membership meetings. We had an incredible turnout, and the energy and engagement from all of you were inspiring.

Negotiation Updates & HMH Propaganda

We held important discussions about the state of our contract negotiations and the misleading messaging being circulated by HMH. Your voices, questions, and solidarity made it clear: we are united and ready to fight for a fair contract.

Why Union Leadership Cannot Accept HMH’s Proposed Contract

Staffing Ratios:
HMH continues to refuse to include enforceable staffing ratios in our contract—despite the urgent short staffing issues we face daily. Even more frustrating, HMH claims they cannot put staffing ratios in a contract, yet they already did last year at Palisades Medical Center. Their position simply doesn’t hold up.

Wages:
HMH’s wage proposal is not only inadequate—it’s insulting. It fails to recognize the value of our work and the real financial pressures we face.

Clarifying Staffing Ratios

We had a productive discussion about how staffing ratios would function. Many asked how ratios might impact the flow of admitted patients from the ED to the floors. The answer: they won’t disrupt patient flow. Instead, they’ll provide a mechanism to address short staffing in real time through:

• Assignments taken by ANMs/NMs
• Offering of critical shift pay
• Voluntary on-call bonuses

Importantly, HMH has already budgeted for the staffing ratios we’ve proposed. What they refuse to do is implement the tools needed to make them work.

Next Steps

We are taking strong and escalating actions to make sure management gives us the contract we deserve.

We ask that HMH come back to the table with a serious proposal that would address safe staffing and fair wages.

Stay Connected

Please watch for further updates and calls to action. If you’d like a car magnet or stickers to show your support, reach out—we’d be happy to get them to you!

In solidarity,

Anna Pona and Sybil Schriever, your LEB