For a good portion of my life, I have had to struggle with people at the top, supposed “leaders” with experience and wisdom, seeming to lack common sense. For the nurses at my local hospital, Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, should it take more than 11 months to try to obtain pay that equals that of all the other hospitals in other western Massachusetts counties? Does it make sense that management demands they come care for sick people when they themselves are ill?

As a retired certified nurse assistant, I had the opportunity to sit in on a couple of meetings. An ER nurse gave me her cell so we could be in touch. It was unbelievable how hard they worked on various options, trying to compromise and negotiate with management. And yet, after a while, management refused to meet with the staff.

On three occasions, a nurse gave me signs to distribute to city councilors and friends. They went like hotcakes at a council meeting. It was very easy to get a council resolution in support of the basic needs at our hospital. For two months, I brought it to the attention of our citizens during public comment.

Finally, a press conference was held on July 16. WGBH, Channel 22 News, and the Greenfield Recorder were all present; only about six citizens attended. The purpose? To notify the public that the Massachusetts Nurses Association had to file a complaint with the state Department of Public Health regarding the welfare/safety of patients. Obviously, the public deserves an update since a formal strike had, to date, been avoided. I am guessing there was nearly an hour of filming as nurses and a patient spoke. Only a snippet probably was aired. The Recorder finally published a huge article on July 17.

Although great strides had been made in negotiations to avoid an actual strike, during the month of June about 22 staff members had been axed across various departments. Cafeteria hours are nonexistent on evenings and weekends. Imagine what all of this does to morale. It smacks of retaliation.

Huge money will be spent acquiring Mercy Medical Center, and Baystate already has the former Franklin County Hospital, a huge Baystate complex in Springfield, and Noble Hospital. Common sense and strong, caring leadership? Bah, humbug.

Caring for the sick? Patient-to-nurse ratio? Ability to take a quick break during a 10-hour shift? … Just means asking your colleague to attend to 14 patients rather than their usual seven. Leaving bedside care to transport an urgent patient to X-ray or MRI? Are you kidding me?

There is yet another missing piece. After the press conference, the gentleman taping for WGBH interviewed me about urgent care. I was able to state that the new sign at the AEIOU Occupational & Urgent Healthcare at Cherry Rum Plaza did not extend their hours or their services. There is absolutely no valid urgent care facility for the Greenfield area. One can drive to Brattleboro, Vermont, or to Amherst. Mass General Brigham Cooley runs the Amherst one. All over the eastern and central part of this state, urgent care facilities are prevalent, taking the burden off of the local ER.

These nurses and supporting staff felt a calling when seeking a career. They didn’t get into this field for the money or the glory. No greater mission than this critical care. Does this feel like a David-and-Goliath situation? They deserve a community fighting alongside them.

Call the two hospitals and leave messages with the CEOs. Write an opinion. I plan to stand out on the Greenfield Common with a sign or two on Saturday mornings. The farmers market and live music make it a lively venue. I may have to give up my church on Sunday mornings.

Contact me if you want a lawn sign. Please join to show solidarity for good care in our regional hospital!

Pamela Goodwin lives in Greenfield.