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By Louis Porter VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: November 5, 2009
MONTPELIER ? The union that represents state workers is objecting to a requirement that employees at the Vermont State Hospital be fitted for protective masks to slow the spread of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu.
The reason is not that state workers don't see the possible need for protective measures to be taken if the flu is as widespread as feared, but the way the state has gone about implementing the requirement, said Jes Kraus, head of the Vermont State Employees Association.
Under the contracts that employees ? including those at the hospital ? work under the state cannot impose such the requirement that state hospital staff get fitted for the heavy-duty n95 masks without going through the collective bargaining process, Kraus said.
But Michael Hartman, the commissioner of mental health, said the state is taking a prudent measure to prepare to protect workers and patients at the hospital for the mentally ill. By some estimates, H1N1 could infect up to 30 percent of the state.
"What we are trying to do here is do the best thing we can to protect the people who work for us," he said. Safe labor requirements overrule collective bargaining issues, Hartman added. The state hospital is the facility of last resort in some cases, and cannot send patients who have the flu, but are not seriously ill to other facilities, making it important that the state can treat patients who have the illness at the site, he said. And when there is a case of flu there will not be time for the mask fittings, he added.
Each fitting requires the completion of a medical form, facial hair to be shaved off and about 20 minutes, he said.
The union and state officials are now talking and he hopes to resolve the issue, Hartman said. In the meantime, the VSEA has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the state for requiring the mask fitting.
According to that filing with the Vermont Labor Relations Board, the state declined to enter into negotiations with the union over the issue and the union provided evidence that regular surgical masks ? which do not require the shaving of beards and sideburns or as extensive a fitting process ? would be just as effective.
Kraus said the state has made a practice recently of imposing such requirements without going through the proper procedures.
"It is an increasingly common pattern under this administration," he said. "It always comes down to 'you didn't involve us in the process and sit down and bargain'."
One of the worries about the fitting procedure is protecting the sanctity of worker medical information, Kraus added.
Hartman said the medical questionnaire that would be filled out before the mask fittings is important because it ensures the safety of workers who might have other respiratory or cardiac ailments that make it dangerous for them to wear the n95 masks that can restrict air low.
But workers in health care facilities often have to alter their appearance or make concessions in what they do for their jobs, Hartman added.
"I have a beard so I certainly can sympathize," he said. "It is always odd to have a job that requires you to modify yourself ? this is one of the tradeoffs you make to be a health care provider."
MONTPELIER ? The union that represents state workers is objecting to a requirement that employees at the Vermont State Hospital be fitted for protective masks to slow the spread of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu.
The reason is not that state workers don't see the possible need for protective measures to be taken if the flu is as widespread as feared, but the way the state has gone about implementing the requirement, said Jes Kraus, head of the Vermont State Employees Association.
Under the contracts that employees ? including those at the hospital ? work under the state cannot impose such the requirement that state hospital staff get fitted for the heavy-duty n95 masks without going through the collective bargaining process, Kraus said.
But Michael Hartman, the commissioner of mental health, said the state is taking a prudent measure to prepare to protect workers and patients at the hospital for the mentally ill. By some estimates, H1N1 could infect up to 30 percent of the state.
"What we are trying to do here is do the best thing we can to protect the people who work for us," he said. Safe labor requirements overrule collective bargaining issues, Hartman added. The state hospital is the facility of last resort in some cases, and cannot send patients who have the flu, but are not seriously ill to other facilities, making it important that the state can treat patients who have the illness at the site, he said. And when there is a case of flu there will not be time for the mask fittings, he added.
Each fitting requires the completion of a medical form, facial hair to be shaved off and about 20 minutes, he said.
The union and state officials are now talking and he hopes to resolve the issue, Hartman said. In the meantime, the VSEA has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the state for requiring the mask fitting.
According to that filing with the Vermont Labor Relations Board, the state declined to enter into negotiations with the union over the issue and the union provided evidence that regular surgical masks ? which do not require the shaving of beards and sideburns or as extensive a fitting process ? would be just as effective.
Kraus said the state has made a practice recently of imposing such requirements without going through the proper procedures.
"It is an increasingly common pattern under this administration," he said. "It always comes down to 'you didn't involve us in the process and sit down and bargain'."
One of the worries about the fitting procedure is protecting the sanctity of worker medical information, Kraus added.
Hartman said the medical questionnaire that would be filled out before the mask fittings is important because it ensures the safety of workers who might have other respiratory or cardiac ailments that make it dangerous for them to wear the n95 masks that can restrict air low.
But workers in health care facilities often have to alter their appearance or make concessions in what they do for their jobs, Hartman added.
"I have a beard so I certainly can sympathize," he said. "It is always odd to have a job that requires you to modify yourself ? this is one of the tradeoffs you make to be a health care provider."
