When Health Care Employees Strike

This thoroughly revised and updated second edition of When Health Care Employees Strike is an essential survival guide for health care administrators who must plan for and cope with the inevitable labor dispute. Written by Kenneth Kruger and Norman Metzger-- two experts in the field of health care labor relations-- this much-needed resource includes the critical information and useful strategies health care executives must have in order to be properly prepared. The authors provide detailed information on labor law, an analysis of the different types of disputes, advice on how to use mediation effectively, suggestions for assessing manpower needs before a strike occurs, and ideas for preparing contingency plans. In addition to presenting information on ways to prevent strikes, the book also contains a comprehensive step-by-step manual to ensure health care organizations can continue operation during a labor dispute.

Acknowledgements ix About the Authors xi Introduction xiii Part 1 Health Care Strikes: Legal and Moral Implications 1 The Impact of Labor Legislation on the Health Care Industry 3 2 Types of Strikes: Causes and Characteristics 19 3 Strike-Related Actions: Union and Management 29 4 Nursing Strikes: A Breed Apart 45 5 The Future: Proposals for Change 59 Appendix A: Ashtabula General Hospital Nurse Strike Chronology 74 Appendix B: The Use of Interest Arbitration in the Public Sector 81 Part 2 Sample Strike Plan Strike Planning Committees 95 Human Resource Policies 97 Financial Policies and Procedures 101 Personnel Plan 105 Patient Care Services 110 Food Services 126 Accommodations 128 Engineering and Plant Operations 130 Supplies Subcommittee 136 Security 138 Labor-Employee Relations 141 Morale Committee 142 Communication 145 Index 149