by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
About 40 picketers marched in circles on the sidewalk in front of UNM Hospital Wednesday morning.
They were waving signs with slogans such as "Patients Before Profits" and "What part of negotiate don't you understand?"
After marching for more than an hour, they announced the results of a vote asking whether hospital employees had confidence in CEO Steve McKernan's ability to run the hospital.
About 30 picketers - most of them members of Local 1199 of the Hospital and Health Care Employees - went into McKernan's office to deliver 683 ballots that said they had no confidence in his management of the hospital. Forty people voted they were confident with McKernan's abilities.
Eleanor Chavez, director of the union, said she hopes the results of the vote will prompt the hospital's board of trustees to consider replacing McKernan.
McKernan stood in front of the picketers while they questioned his handling of salaries, bonuses, staffing problems and contract negotiations with the union. McKernan would only say all the issues mentioned could be brought up in contract negotiations later in the day.
She said there were several reports of hospital management trying to suppress the vote.
"Some workers have had discussions with supervisors that left the impression that they would lose their job if they participated," she said.
Susan Slohm, an organizer for the union, who was taking ballots for the vote, said one whispered comment from a manager discouraged several workers from voting.
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"There was a manager up there and she said under her breath 'don't talk to them,'" Slohm said. "It shut the whole floor down."
Chavez said the hospital is trying to create a loyalty oath for employees as part of their annual performance evaluations. Any employee who speaks poorly of the hospital can have points taken off their evaluation, which is a violation of free speech, she said.
Hospital spokesman Luke Frank declined to comment on the evaluation.
"It's a very general instruction to management in how to interpret it," Chavez said. "If a worker is out picketing, they could interpret that as speaking poorly of the hospital."
Charlene Pohl, a case manager in psychiatry, said employees should be able to show their dissatisfaction with McKernan.
"In this country you can tell the president to his face that you don't like him without getting in trouble, so why can't you tell your CEO?" she said.
Chavez said she was frustrated with reports that the hospital's managers might receive bonuses worth up to 20 percent of their annual salary, a total of $2.2 million between 125 people. She said the hospital disputes those numbers but has not shown any contradictory figures. Chavez said the union was also unhappy the hospital will not treat people who do not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay for their treatment.
Before going into effect the contract must be approved by the union's members. Chavez said members will vote on the contract July 12, and she is confident it will be voted in.
The hospital and the union reached a tentative contract agreement Wednesday afternoon.
Chavez said actions taken Wednesday morning by members of the union resulted in successful negotiations.
"Before the action today we were convinced the hospital's intention today was to declare impasse," she said. "I think the picket, the vote and going into Steve McKernan's (office) had a definite impact."
Chavez said the final agreement includes a 3.5 percent raise for members of the union, up from the hospital's previous offer of 3 percent. The hospital also agreed to look at staffing issues, she said.
Frank said the hospital's administration was happy the agreement had been reached.
"We're pleased that the union and the hospital have reached a tentative agreement," he said.
Frank could not comment on any of the circumstances surrounding the contract or the vote.
McKernan was unavailable for comment after the agreement was reached.
