Vaccine Victories

From the beginning, we have supported the idea of health care workers receiving influenza vaccinations. But we were also very clear that any employer-based vaccination program must be voluntary and part of a comprehensive infectious disease program. 

 
When two of our employers, UIHC and Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, established highly objectionable policies, we sought to have them reversed…And we did!

In early November, an arbitrator ruled in our favor in a contract grievance hearing at UIHC.

We argued that the mandatory vaccination program was a violation of our contract, and the arbitrator agreed. Since that time, we have made it clear to hospital officials that we would like to work with them to get the vaccination rate as close to 100 percent as possible through an education program. We have yet to hear from them.

At Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston Iowa, management wanted to impose a punative vaccination program. While technically not mandatory in its language, the program’s elements had the same effect by  forcing people off the job if they failed to adhere. We filed a grievance based on a number of contractual terms. We heard recently that management had recinded the policy and agreed to make it much more palatable to our members there. Stronger Together…more than a slogan.