The Next Festival of Emerging Artists also has its eyes on the future. An annual event founded by composer-conductor Peter Askim in 2013, it brings together young like-minded string players and cutting-edge composers for a week of intensive preparation followed by a pair of performances.
In a letter John Breasted writes: "The nurse staffing issues are complex. My own understanding of them has not been helped by soundbite-sized assertions about what the adoption of Question 1 would mean for patients."
In her letter Rene Wood writes: "Question No. 1 will undermine the financial stability of hospitals, especially nonprofit hospitals like our beloved Fairview Hospital."
When the workers tried to enter the hospital at 7 a.m. today, they were greeted by uniformed security guards and Arthur Milano, BHS’ vice president of human resources, who told them they "won't be returning today but we'll welcome you back on the 8th."
A spokesman for the Massachusetts Nurses Association said its members were pleased at the ruling and that they would be holding a Patient Safety Vigil on Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. before the 24-hour strike is slated proceed on Tuesday at 7 a.m., "unless BMC bargains in good faith and agrees to a fair contract."
The complaint questions the legality of the planned labor stoppage and seeks an injunction and damages to compensate the hospital for the cost of replacement nurses.
The strike will by necessity be considerably longer than one day. While "BMC will bring in experienced, qualified replacement nurses, the temporary nursing agency requires a minimum five-day contract."
--- Berkshire Health Systems response to strike
One BMC nurse said the situation has deteriorated to the point that many Berkshire County pediatricians are sending patients to Bay State Medical in Springfield out of frustration.
The rally at Park Square in Pittsfield, Mass., in support of the Affordable Care Act, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare is one of hundreds of similar events being held across the country this Saturday.
