Nurses protest work conditions

Members of a Columbia health care union will voice concerns over the treatment of nurses at the Truman Veterans Hospital at an informational picket Saturday.

Gary Parker, a hospital employee and president of the 903 American Federation of Government Employees, said the hospital does not have enough nurses on staff, and nurses who are injured on the job have been sent home without pay. The group will convene outside the hospital from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“We just want to improve the way the nurses and professional employees are treated and that will improve the way the veterans are treated. It’s not about money,” Parker said.

Stephen Gaither, a public relations representative for the hospital, said the nurses receive competitive benefits, 26 paid vacation days a year, 13 days of sick leave a year and in the last six months they have received a 2 percent pay increase. The package also includes opportunities for paid advanced degrees and a retirement plan.

“We know that there are always opportunities for improvement,” Gaither said. “This is another opportunity for us to address that and try and make this a better place to work.”

Parker started the local union chapter in 1996 to resolve similar claims of mistreatment within the hospital. According to the doctor, the recent claims of mistreatment have been discussed for more than a year with upper management at the hospital with little result.

“We have attempted to deal with the VA, and we are running into a brick wall,” he said.

While the treatment of nurses by senior management within the hospital is the main focus of Saturday’s picket, Parker also said the group is concerned about the overall care of the veterans as a result of these conditions.