Grievances and Arbitrations

• NYPNU has successfully resolved the class action pension grievance. The terms of the agreement are as follows:
  1. As per the collective bargaining agreement, the year 2007 will not count as a year of credited service.
  2. All RNs who retire after December 31, 2007 will be able to count 2007 in their final average pay.
  3. Employees who retire in 2007 will not be able to count 2007 in their final average compensation. No member, however, will be disadvantaged by this: employees who already retired this year have not earned enough for it to be one of their 5 consecutive highest earning years, while employees who were planning to retire at the end of 2007 will be able to count 2007 earnings in their final average pay simply by deferring their retirement until after the New Year.
• NYPNU has settled a class action grievance with the administration regarding the advancing of vacation time. For the current prime time vacation period, RNs who were denied vacation will be entitled to at least one week of available vacation within the current VHF factor. In order to be eligible, RNs with 5 or fewer years of experience must not be in arrears more than 1 week, and RNs with more than 5 years of experience must not be in arrears more than 2 weeks. From September 16, 2007 through September 15, 2008, the following shall apply:
  1. RNs with 1-5 years of seniority may be advanced up to one week’s vacation;
  2. RNs with greater than 5 years of service may be advanced up to two week’s vacation. RNs who resign prior to accruing the advanced vacation time will be expected to reimburse the Hospital for the unearned time.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Several members have expressed concerns about the pneumococcal vaccine protocol. NYPNU has verified that it is within the scope of practice for RNs to administer the vaccine under the non-patient specific standing orders and protocols that the Hospital is using.

NYPNU Student Nurse Program

The first class of NYPNU student nurses started their orientation on June 25th and will be with us through August 17th. The 10 student nurses have been placed on units that have no SNAP students or only one: 3 Wollman, 4 East/Lachman, 4 Uris, 4 Wollman, 5 Uris, 7 Lachman, 7 Uris, 8 East/Lachman, L&D and PACU. They will work 11.5 hour shifts and will adopt the schedule of their preceptors. Please welcome them and look for opportunities to help them learn new skills.

GAP Program

The GAP program is a scholarship for hospital RNs that is intended to bridge the gap between clinical nursing practice and academia. Participants attend class for 7.5 hours, one day per week for 12 weeks. The Hospital will pay for the time spent in class, and you will receive 12 credits for it. In exchange, you must be willing to serve as a clinical instructor for select student nurses. LHH/MEETH has partnered with Adelphi College. Upon completion of the program, RNs with an MSN will be granted an Adjunct Faculty position, and RNs with a BSN will become Clinical Instructors. While working as an Adjunct or Instructor, participants will be paid by Adelphi. This is a wonderful way to build your resume and supplement your income. Adjunct teaching can also be a great part-time job after retirement. More importantly, you will be mentoring and educating the future of the nursing profession. The Hospital is particularly looking for applicants in MCH, OR, RR, med/surg and Psych. The application deadline is July 16, 2007. Please contact nursing recruitment or the Union office for an application.