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Social Worker Case Managers
After a lengthy legal battle, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that the Social Worker Case Managers belong in the NYPNU bargaining unit on the grounds that they do exactly the same work as the RN Case Managers. The Social Worker Case Managers voted to join NYPNU on November 13, 2007. On February 5, 2008, NYPNU and management concluded negotiations to incorporate them into the collective bargaining agreement. As a result of the agreement, the Social Worker Case Managers now have job security and pay equity. They received salary increases of 15 to 21 percent and were able to remain in the defined benefit pension plan. They also save a significant amount on health insurance.
Staffing
NYPNU has received a record number of staffing complaints over the past two months. This is partly attributable to a citywide surge in patient census. This surge has not only forced the Hospital to open units normally closed (2 Wollman and 5 Wollman), it has limited the number of agency and per diems RNs who are available to work at LHH/MEETH. We have had two emergency meetings with management to discuss the high census and the concomitant understaffing. In addition, we have filed unit-based grievances on behalf of 3 Wollman, 4 East/Lachman, ICU, 7 Lachman, 7 Uris, 9 Uris and the ER. In response to our efforts, management implemented ACP on an emergency basis, and ACP will continue in effect on 3 Wollman until the unit reaches the requisite staffing complement and all RNs are off orientation. 4 East/Lachman has had two meetings with Phyllis Yezzo to address their concerns. We are still in the process of scheduling the remaining grievances. There are nearly 40 RNs who are currently on orientation. As these nurses complete their orientation, the staffing situation will of course improve.
Advancing of Vacation Time
Last year, NYPNU settled a class action grievance with the administration regarding the advancing of vacation time. From September 16, 2007 through September 15, 2008, the following applies:
- RNs with 1-5 years of seniority may be advanced up to one week's vacation;
- 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.
In order to be eligible to have time advanced, 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.
As of September 16, 2008, vacation time must be accrued before it is taken, but it may still be approved before it is accrued. Approval will be contingent on the employee having accrued the time before the requested vacation date.
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Transit and Parking Program
There has been some confusion as to whether receipts for transit and parking are required in order to be reimbursed. As of now, employees are not required to submit receipts for parking or mass transit in order to receive reimbursement from their accounts. However, changes to the Internal Revenue Code are currently being considered, which may result in receipts being required in the near future. If at any point you no longer want to participate in this program, go to benefitenroll.com and click on "waive" to stop your payroll deductions.
NYPNU SNAP Students
The second group of NYPNU student nurses has completed their 8-week internship at LHH/MEETH. They had a wonderful experience
and gained a great deal of confidence. The student nurses are so grateful to NYPNU, their preceptors, and everyone else who gave them an opportunity to learn. They gave the Union a jade plant to serve as a symbol of their own growth in the years to come. Several of them hope to be hired by the hospital and become involved in NYPNU. We would like to extend a special thank you to Teresa Paulucci for organizing the program and to the nurses who precepted and inspired these students: Irene Acaling, Delia Chua, Dawn Howard, Meredith Hudes-Lowder, Nicole Jie, Jane Keefe, Marie Dominique-Louiegene, Rose May-Coma, Haesook Pryhuber Oh, Diane Shulman, and Amelia Vaughan.
New Membership Benefit: Online CEs
Earn CEs whenever and wherever you want. As of the beginning of this year, NYPNU has been offering our nurses CEs on a wide range of topics, all available online at www.NursingCenter.com. Through NursingCenter.com, you can access more than 800 CE courses from 30 leading professional journals. Call Diane at (212) 988-5565 or e-mail her at Greenfeld@nypnu.org for the NYPNU access code. Then go to www.NursingCenter.com and take up to 1 test per month for free as a benefit of NYPNU. Register by clicking on My NursingCenter on the upper right hand side of the screen. Then click on Join for free.
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