Grievances

• As reported previously, NYPNU has multiple outstanding class action grievances in the OR. In response to our grievances regarding the failure to post vacancies and to provide two circulators on open heart and neuro cases-management has committed in writing to comply with the contract language. The class action grievance over management's failure to rotate charge responsibilities was heard on December 10. Management acknowledged that they were in violation of the contract, and we are currently negotiating a settlement agreement to bring the OR into compliance with the contract as quickly as possible. All OR nurses are encouraged to contact the Union office to review management's most recent proposal and provide feedback. We are in the process of scheduling the class action grievances regarding end-of-shift mandatory overtime and the failure to compensate time spent changing into and out of scrubs.
• The class action grievance regarding management's failure to provide charge and monitor coverage on 9 East/Lachmanwas heard on Dec. 6. In an effort to address the understaffing on the unit, the Hospital has hired 19 RNs over the course of 2007. However many of them are new grads who require an extended orientation during which they are not counted in the ratios. There were 14 travelers who worked on the unit this year, but they have been released as new staff nurses were hired; only one remains. Recognizing the large number of nurses who still remain on orientation, management said they would look into hiring unit-specific per diems with the understanding that they would be required to float in preference to regular staff and overtime nurses.
• It has recently come to NYPNU's attention that some per diem RNs have worked a few hours, then been cancelled for the remainder of their shift. Please be advised that, according to our contract, per diems must be cancelled at least 1½ hours before their shift begins or they will be paid for the whole shift. If you are a per diem who was sent home and not paid for the full shift, call the Union office to join our class action grievance so we can fight to recoup the money that is owed to you.

Health Insurance

It appears increasingly likely that the Hospital will stay with Oxford as their health insurance carrier, but the final decision has not been made. We expect open enrollment to be in January, and any changes will go into effect on February 1st. When the Hospital has reached agreement with an insurer, employees will receive a letter with the dates of open enrollment.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Open enrollment for Healthcare and Dependent Care FSA plans is underway. The Hospital has enhanced the plans for 2008 to cover an additional 2 ½ months of qualifying expenses. This means that you will be allowed to submit claims for reimbursement for all qualifying expenses incurred from January 1, 2008 through March 15, 2009. If you want to participate in the FSA in 2008, you must elect or re-elect these benefits before December 28, 2007. Current FSA elections will not carry over. During this special open enrollment, all passwords in BenefitEnroll (www.benefitenroll.com) will be reset to the last 4 digits of your Social Security No. Your user ID is your Social Security No. without dashes. Once you login, you will have the option to change your password.

New Membership Benefit: Online CEs

Whatever your continuing education needs, you can earn CEs whenever and wherever you want. As of January 1, 2008, NYPNU is offering our nurses CEs on a wide range of topics, all easy to access online at www.NursingCenter.com. Now you will have access to more than 800 CE courses from 30 leading professional journals. Call or e-mail Diane at the NYPNU office for the access code. Then go to www.NursingCenter.com and take up to 1 test per month on NYPNU.