Pre-emptive Emptiness wrote on Oct 25, 2008 6:23 PM:I know, I know...all you geniuses who commented brilliantly
on the other similarly-titled article about the OTHER unions can just copy and paste your previous comments here...why bother yourselves thinking at all? Just do it.

Sounds good to me wrote on Oct 25, 2008 8:31 PM:This board needs some changes. I voted for some new faces at the table and the ever irrepresible Sterling. Someone has to get the management back on track here and they can do it! Frankly with 3 failed bonds, Gonzales should be asked to leave.

Pirate wrote on Oct 25, 2008 9:08 PM:I just received a negative call from Randy Horton, with the only reason to vote for him is that he doesn't like another board member. Horton is bad news.

pro-union wrote on Oct 25, 2008 9:51 PM:I already voted by mail and I only voted for two candidates, the ones endorsed by the nurses. Unlike the editors of this newspaper, I like unions and I like America having a middle class that unions provide.

Take that sterling wrote on Oct 25, 2008 11:26 PM:I will only vote for one candidate that this is Randall Horton. My vote will count x4 for Horton.

Sick of UNIONS wrote on Oct 25, 2008 11:30 PM:We are going to get rid of these UNIONS we have had enough of their Buying politicians. What is this world coming to. These of you n UNIONS are sell outs to the AMERICAN way!!!

What happen to the little guy and MOM and POP businesses, they've been eaten up by UNIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

from the back gate wrote on Oct 26, 2008 6:54 AM:I suspect that pro-union is a good registered dem who votes party tickets. Anyone who will pay someone to tell them how to work cant be the brightest penny. Sterling truly needs to go, because all she has done is disrupt meetings as shown on televised board meetings. Cant say I know the nurse who is running, but if she doesnt work at tri-city hosp what does she know about it? I agree we need new blood on the board, but, Horton who cant decide what side of the fence he wants to be on. Reno, who hasnt nursed in a long time, and may have lost touch with what is going on in the nursing occupation. In short this board has made little or no progress at getting our hosp replaced. Many of the new young nurses have about as much compassion for their patients as a rock. More interested in pay raises for that new bmw. What ever happened to the caring and compasionate nurse? Yes, I will vote for some of the candidates, lesser of the evils. Kind of like the general election. To bad some really qualified people cant step forward and move us forward not backwards or stand still.

Tri City Blues wrote on Oct 26, 2008 7:41 AM:As the article stated "Hospital officials have said the staffing cuts were necessary to help trim costs." What they didn't say is the triming of cost means more at the end of the year for their bonus scheme.

New Hospital wrote on Oct 26, 2008 7:46 AM:I'll vote for anyone that get us a new hospital. The problem with the previous election is that they tried to be sneaky and do a mail in vote only. The problem before was that they didn't offer a world class hospital. Whoever gets elected needs to dream big and offer us a hospital so great that no one can resist building it!

Board Observer wrote on Oct 26, 2008 7:58 AM:Watching TC Board, two board members Sterling and Reno have asked to see the actual surveys, their results, and actual numbers of submission. Hospital leadership refuses these board members but spoon feeds the press only what they want them to know!

I want to know exactly how many patients during the surveyed timeframe were seen, how many returned their survey, how many responded to the survey, what was written in the comments, and what was the various numeric rating for each questions for each patient.

Just because "The hospital provided a list of recent patient survey results, which shows, as recently as June, 54 percent of patients who returned surveys said they would rate their experience at Tri-City as a "9 or 10," what does this suggest about the other 46 perscent who did not return surveys, or had bad marks?

That should be the area of focus particularly when 2/3 of the voters are necessary to pass a bond.

Deja Vu to Sounds Good to Me wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:14 AM:Sterling irrepressible -- do you mean she's not a rubberstamper? She represents the people and cannot be pressed into the Hospital Board or Administration's stepford box? Well one thing for sure, she asks questions, which means accountability and transparency.

Heyoehkah wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:17 AM:To pro-union,

Middle Class? Who and where are they? The middle class is headed for extinction. I am occasionally pro-union. However, the problem we have now is that the only growing segment of union membership is public employees.

I would rather see nurses have raises than trillions wasted on an unnecessary war, farm handouts to giant conglomerates, health care for millions of illegal aliens, bogus drug war etc. But the fact is that Americans in general are taxed too heavily, and Californians are among the highest taxed of all.

When public employees vote themselves a raise through the political process they are taking from others.

Sure, lets support good pay for nurses. They do a fine service and should be rewarded, but this type of expense can only be justified by ending the insane waste of taxpayer resources.

A perfect example of constituents voting themselves a raise is social security. Anyone that spends more than 5 minutes researching the system knows it is insolvent and headed for disaster. However seniors will vote out of office any Pol than mentions the problems, so they stay silent.

This same type of distortion held within democracy is demonstrated in public employee unions voting in "their man".

Oside Mama wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:17 AM:Don't people get it? Why all the upset over Unions. Don't you guys remember the history on these? They also ensure that the people in service to our community are cared for. I'm not part of a union but am glad that they are there to do regular salary and benefit surveys. They help us to self regulate to ensure that we have the top quality people in their fields to SERVE our community! Oside is nowhere near the top paying town in San Diego. Perhaps if we were, we'd have the very best teachers, librarians, fire, police and nurses. GO UNIONS!

John wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:56 AM:Why would this hospiutal's union be dumb enough to endorse ANY of the incumbent board members when they are more interested in spending money by putting pathetic (and FAILING!) bond issues in special elections, then in fixing the hosptial's staffing issues?
I already voted for the 4 NON-incumbents! Throw the current bums out!

Nanchi wrote on Oct 26, 2008 9:52 AM:My dear father was recently at TCH in critical condition. I was there 20 hours a day, and the nurses were wonderful. The night nurse didn't leave his bedside for more than a couple minutes for 12 hours. The day nurse worked all day with NO break for lunch.

Dad went into TCH not breathing on his own and came out alive and well. It really offends me when someone thinks nurses don't care.

TCH needs more nurses and less money paid to administrators. I hope the voters remember the workers who do the actual care of their loved ones.

To pro union wrote on Oct 26, 2008 10:38 AM:I am middle class with NO help from the union.

Maybe you forgot the grocery workers strike a few years back. Have bad did the union hurt themselves? I know, you wont want to answer.

Dana wrote on Oct 26, 2008 11:44 AM:What Tri City Blues says is correct. I've never understood why administration gets bonuses for cutting staff. What's the point in cutting costs if you're giving back in bonuses what you've "saved". I was in Tri City about 4 1/2 yrs. ago and the nurses were wonderful. They, and the rest of the employees, the people who do the real work,are the ones who who should be getting "bonuses".

Mike wrote on Oct 26, 2008 12:00 PM:Tri City has some of the best doctors, nurses, and allied health employees. Unfortunately low morale permeates the atmosphere which is why the Union was able to organize. Truth is management sucks. The professionalism of the doctors, nurses, and allied health and their comppassionate love for helping patients, is never forgotten when they are with a patient. Nevertheless, they can be unhappy with their circumstances, they just don't share it with sick people because they are their to help them heal.

Get real wrote on Oct 26, 2008 12:24 PM:quote from story:
"An analysis of 2007 budget data, performed by the North County Times..."

Should read: TCMC asked us to print their analysis...

Seriously, Sisson doesn't know how to do an analysis, let alone some investigative reporting.

Who decides wrote on Oct 26, 2008 12:25 PM:I am a registered nurse at TCMC and I don't remember any surveys being sent out asking who I would support. If the union truly "represents" me, don't you think they should ask my opinion before they spend MY hard earned money in support of a competitor? I'm not saying I disagree with their choice. I'm just saying if they are supposed to represent ALL nurses, they should survey ALL nurses before getting involved in this election of board members. A survey would cost little compared to the $44,000 they are spending and would make nurses think they actually have a voice in the matter.

to who decides wrote on Oct 26, 2008 1:40 PM:If you are a member of the union you elected representatives to speak on your behalf. If you're not in the union as a member then perhaps you should join. There's a lot of rumormongering initiated by management. Without proof, their rumors are simply defamation, slander, liabalous. Good people do not always take these type of situation to the courts.

As for surveys the article refers to patient satisfaction surveys.

Whats really going on... wrote on Oct 26, 2008 1:40 PM:Lets not forget the union collects a million a year in dues from their members at the hospital. Just might have been better to work with management and collect the million in salaries for the nurses instead. The union is supporting the board member that will ensure their pay check. Get all the employees to unionize at the hospital and guess what, the union collect 2 million a year. It's called union job security.

It's really not about the worker.

Jane wrote on Oct 26, 2008 2:17 PM:All of the materials I've read about the supported individuals leads me to believe they are the best choice. As for the others Horton, Garrahy, and Tweedy they have been the rubberstampers of the CEO, failing in their oversight for the people

John wrote on Oct 26, 2008 2:36 PM:Gadfly to BOD: Is isn't about time you got a truely independent and objective analysis of how the hospital is doing? You might begin by vetting the contractors for your very expensive statisfaction surveys yourself instead of turning it over to AG. These reports are nothing more than random convience surveys that the contractors formate to meet the need of AG to report that "all is well at Tri-City". They have no satistical significance and are not even used to guide floor by floor and service by service improvements. At the very least shouldn't the BOD and the MS be able to see and analyse the raw data such, as it is, and make to up their own mind? Its time to turn the lights on and see what scurries across dirty floors of the Tri-City Medical Center.

To Whats really going on... wrote on Oct 26, 2008 2:37 PM:I used to think the same as you, and much of what you say is true. I was satsified with my paycheck before the union ever came to the hospital and felt nurses were professionals that did not need someone else to speak for them. However, I am now seeing the importance of having a union at Tri-City Medical Center. I am seeing more and more management by intimidation. Even with union backing, I am sometimes afraid to speak out for patient safety because I have experienced the vindictive side of management. A nurse afraid of retaliation as a result of speaking up for patient safety. How sad is that? Even director Garrahy, once a nurse, refuses to believe nurses when they say patient care is suffering.

I still have no use for the political side of the union, but at least I know I'll have someone to help protect my job when I do find the courage to speak up for the quality of care for my patients. I pay $1000+ per year for that protection. It's the lesser of two evils.

fact check.... wrote on Oct 26, 2008 4:08 PM:These endorsements are about a power play by the union to get more money and they will have their 4 puppets on the Board to do their work....do you want the Oakland and LA unions running the Board?....then reject these people and vote for the other 4. Quality of care is fine...nursing staffing is at staate mandated standards that they union wanted but older nurses and staff don't like change so they complain--they need to move into the 21st century for providing care!!

Lady wrote on Oct 26, 2008 4:40 PM:YOU have got to be kidding me. This hospital SPENT how much money on this crap??? And they wanted my $$, 3 different times. Yes Iam voting for ANY NEW names this election. WHY ,let's see "the old" names keep spending $$ they don't have on "nonesense" SAVE your $$ Build a new hospital!!! Duh!!Not getting my $$

Who decides wrote on Oct 26, 2008 5:41 PM:RE: 1:40PM response: As far as I know there was no election for representatives in my department. They are simply appointed.

Union meetings are mid-morning, which is a hard, if not impossible, time to get away for those nurses working at the bediside. So no way to speak out there.

The surveys I was asking about were surveys asking nurses their opinions about the people running for the board. Of which there were none. That was my point.

Gadfly wrote on Oct 26, 2008 5:49 PM:The CNA was chosen by a sufficient number of nurses at Tri-City to represent all nursing staff. They could have joined any one of several other unions that likely would not have been concerned or provided nurses with the professional leverage needed to: 1. Improve patient care 2. Improve their own working conditions and patient envirioment 3. Speak up about unsavory conditions when they occur 4.Have some job security if perceived by management to be critical and 5. Secure the fruits of their labor, a living wage. It is unfortunate that the nurses had to give a portion of their wages, $42,000 per month, inorder to secure these rights and privileges. If only the Dr. had the same sense of security for speaking up to the man and that women.

To fact check wrote on Oct 26, 2008 6:26 PM:You have no clue! State mandated ratios are the MINIMUM ratio for safe care and do not take into account patient acuity. Add to that the decreasing number of ancillary staff available and you find bedside nurses overwhelmed. The current situation is NOT conducive to quality care. Unfortunately, the only way management will admit that is when patients start having negative outcomes.

A Vote for Horton wrote on Oct 26, 2008 7:29 PM:Deja Vu- Sterling likes to hear herself talk period. She likes to be the center of attention.

Leslie wrote on Oct 26, 2008 7:32 PM:Nanchi- I too was there at TCMC and my experience was different. About one out of three nurses were nice the others I have no comments. I did get the survey and I did not return it because I had nothing good to say about TCMC.

TEAM STERLING and Horton wrote on Oct 26, 2008 7:34 PM:I think Sterling and Horton make a really good team. They make TCMC come alive.

To Gadfly wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:19 PM:With benefits a nurse with 6 years of experience in bringing in very close to a 100K. Lets keep it real because your 42K statement makes the rest of your comments smell.

Funny wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:27 PM:All you hear form these blogs is the CEO pay. No one blinks an eye about the union taking in a million a year from operations. I guess it's all perspective?

Tri City Blues wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:30 PM:Let's know one thing for sure!!! Sterling is not a rubberstamper -- She is not owned by anyone nor ever will be -- She is appalled by the fear mongering, rumor mongering stories generated by administration and comfy cozy board members with CEO Gonzalez.

Tri City is in the business of health!!

People's lives are dependent on the decisions made by the Board of Directors. Garrahy, Tweedy, and Horton's history shows they are not focused on patients' needs, if so then we would not have an exodus of doctors, nurses, ancillary health workers leaving.

A happy place before Gonzalez is now in a desperate morale turn around. Those folks who lost their jobs, often under false pretense or for another disguise, or lost a love one, well there are plenty of them in the heart of the district. Until the culture of the organization changes -- things will not get better.

Do you want an independent board with a heart? Or do you prefer to have management continue to control the board? Perhaps you prefer to have the board control management?

Independence with a heart -- Vote for the Sterling, Reno, Anderson, Coulter

JOE ... wrote on Oct 26, 2008 10:16 PM:Unions give workers a voice, and stand up for scared to death and intimidated workers. CNA gave us ratios or did we forget how they followed our Governator around and disrupted everything he did for months before he rescinded the veto on ratios? Before anyone critizies the pay a nurse earns, pt o your running shoes and try following one around the halls of Tri City. The unions earn the dues we pay for helping us get and keep wages, insurance beneifits and our voice. Union organizers are highly educated and work harder than the nurses they represent! We desperately need unions in all lines of work to protect the workers and give them a backbone!

To Joe wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:27 AM:Look what the union has done for the auto industry. The parasite union will feed on the host auto industry until both die. It’s a sad state to say the least. Non union Asian and European ASSEMBLY plants are prospering while the American auto MANUFACTURING industry is dying a slow death. Our country is going to end up with no manufacturing jobs in the near future if we don’t stop killing our own companies. The auto industry use to hold well over a million jobs in America now it under a million and rapidly falling. Chrysler just announces another 25% reduction in the workforce. This is what the union had done for the auto industry. Thanks Joe for the “highly educated harder work” you provide us.

No one in health care manages by intimidation labor laws do not allow the practice.

To To Gadfly wrote on Oct 27, 2008 8:24 AM:I know nurses who have been at Tri City
for over 20 years and they do not make
100K. What are you smoking. You're probably talking about management again.
That's why we need the union for the nurses.

To Gadfly wrote on Oct 27, 2008 9:29 AM:Review the nursing contract. Non charge or specialty pay is 40 dollars per hour. Add benifits and your making 100K per year. Again, you spreading something that smells. It's in the CNA contract!

Unions are a joke wrote on Oct 28, 2008 7:01 AM:Thank you to the 2 unions who sent me the flyer. Now I know who NOT to vote for. Unions have ONE objective. To take money from the people they represent. Patient care their priority? What a joke. Their tactics of driving a wedge between staff and the trust in the organization they work for, is typical. This negativity is what affects patient care and success of any company. To all the people who think TCMC administration is just so bad, look at how you're conducting yourself. All of the negative comments I've read are hurting TCMC. This isn't the administration doing this, it's UNION supporters.

Deja Vu wrote on Oct 30, 2008 7:35 AM:Unions get their foot in the door when workers are unhappy. Workers have always been happy at Tri City until 2000 that is when the first effort started. CEO Gonzalez contract was signed December 1998 with a start date January 1999. It did not take long for the locals to figure out -- there's trouble behind the walls of Tri City.