eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Strike Contingency Planning
Strike Implications As reported by the Cornell-ILR Labor Action Tracker, the nation witnessed more than 120 healthcare workforce strikes between 2021 and 2023. 4 The rise of indefinite strikes poses a novel challenge—one that adds layers of complexity to contingency strategies. An indefinite strike does not have a defined end date specified when the union delivers the strike notice. Meaning, workers will be on strike until a settlement is reached. The protracted engagement at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey, commencing in August 2023 and concluding only in December 2023, is testament to this trend’s disruptive potential. 5 With a growing national average of healthcare union Collective Bargaining Agreements set to expire annually, the message is transparent: the threat of a potential strikes is not going away, and healthcare organizations need to adapt and prepare to ensure continued care.
Crafting Your Contingency Blueprint
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1/3 of nurse leaders use contingent nurses to close gaps in labor agreements. “ - AMN Healthcare 2024 Survey of Nurse Leaders
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In recent years, nurse to patient ratios have been a point of contention in healthcare labor agreements. Contingency planning can help hospitals assess staffing gaps so you can focus on resolving your labor dispute and reaching a mutual agreement. When health systems do not have a strong contingency plan, they put themselves at risk of being unable to fill replacement worker needs and scrambling to provide continuity of care. Follow the steps below to achieve the best possible outcome in a strike.
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