Representation Elections
As a result of the interest that LHH professionals' have shown in becoming more empowered and obtaining the right to bargain collectively, there will be two representation elections this month¾one for paramedics and perfusionists and another for pharmacists and technologists. NYPNU is on the ballot for both elections, which are scheduled for Sept. 26th and Sept. 29th. When you encounter people in these job classifications, be sure to tell them how being a member of NYPNU has made a difference in your life.
Contract Negotiations
The union held a well-attended membership meeting on Sept. 3rd to discuss NYPNU's contract proposals. These proposals were developed on the basis of membership surveys and recently negotiated contracts at other area hospitals. The base salary for nurses at LHH is currently among the lowest in New York City. Reaching parity on the base salary, while avoiding the wage compression characteristic of other contracts, is one of our primary objectives in bargaining. In order to accomplish this goal it is imperative that every nurse become involved. NYPNU has distributed mobilization surveys that give you an opportunity to choose how you would like to support contract negotiations. Seek out a Delegate or call the NYPNU office for more information!
Lights Out
As demonstrated time and time again, LHH nurses went above and beyond the call of duty in keeping patients safe and well cared for during the recent blackout. Bravo!
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Less commendable was management's response to the blackout, which was to prohibit nurses from leaving at the end of their shifts in direct violation of the contract. As professionals the vast majority of us are more than willing to stay beyond our shift to help the hospital through a crisis. Nevertheless management on some units simply insisted that no one could leave. There are even reports of security guards blocking hospital exits. Consequently, the union has filed a class action grievance over the violation of the NO MANDATORY OVERTIME clause in our contract. Conversely, nurses at MEETH were told not come to work at all and then were denied pay for that day. The union has filed a class action grievance on behalf of the MEETH nurses as well.
Telemetry Takes Over
In what seems to be an effort to eliminate 7.5- hour shifts, LHH has converted 8 Wollman into a telemetry unit and relocated 9 Lachman patients and staff to 8 Wollman. This has displaced a cohesive group of senior nurses on 8 Wollman, compelling many of them to take 11.5-hour positions. The union is doing everything we can to make sure that the hospital accommodates the needs of these displaced nurses, including enforcing their bumping rights and urging the hospital to split FT positions into PT positions.
Grievance Update
Delegates voted to go to arbitration over the hospital's refusal to credit some nurses' years of service at MEETH as LHH years. There is a small group of nurses who came to LHH when MEETH was experiencing financial difficulties shortly before the merger. LHH is refusing to recognize those years of service as LHH years even though nurses who never left MEETH had all years of service so recognized.
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