Grievances and Arbitrations

• The Union filed a class action grievance on behalf of Case Managers, which was heard on April 4th. Under the current NYPNU contract, the ratio for Case Managers is 1:25, but the Case Managers rarely have fewer than 30 patients each. This is primarily due to constant vacancies and the unavailability of supplemental Case Management staff. Adding to the Case Managers’ burden is the insufficient budget allocation for social workers.
• A class action grievance was filed on behalf of senior ER nurses who are being denied the opportunity to be in charge. In the grievance response, management committed to develop a teaching module to train all ER nurses who are interested in assuming charge responsibilities, but reserved the right to deny charge responsibilities to RNs who do not meet their undefined competency standards. This management discretion is a clear violation of our contract. The delegates will vote on taking this case to arbitration.
• NYPNU filed a class action grievance protesting the administration’s decision to end its longstanding policy of advancing vacation time. If you were not approved for at least two weeks of vacation during prime time on the grounds that you had not accrued it, please contact the Union office.
• NYPNU has received enough documentation of ratio violations from the following Med/Surg units to include them in a class action grievance: 3 Wollman, 7 Uris and 9 Uris. Be advised that the Union’s position on accepting patients above the ratio remains what is has always been: the ratios are there for our patients’ safety, and you cannot be required to take patients above your ratio. In the event any members are subject to discipline for insisting on adherence to the contract, they will have the full support of the Union behind them.
• Two arbitrations have been filed on behalf of a NYPNU RN who was unjustly disciplined on the basis of patient complaints.

Representation of CNPs

On April 5, 2007 the Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioners voted unanimously to join NYPNU. The Union began representing Neonatal Nurse Practitioners in 2004. We will now negotiate a Memorandum of Agreement to incorporate the CNPs into the current contract.

Manager Evaluations

Manager evaluation forms were mailed to nurses on all units with Nurse Managers who were hired after we last evaluated managers in September 2006. If you received an evaluation form, please return it to the Union office by May 1st. If you have a new manager but did not receive an evaluation form, contact the Union office so that we can send you one and correct our database.

Sweatshirts

We now have a limited supply of sweatshirts available for those who did not receive one in November. If our supply ran out before you were able to obtain a sweatshirt, please call the Union office to reserve one in your name. If you call when the office is closed, please leave a message for Diane with your name and size so that she can put one aside for you.

Referral Bonus

The Hospital now has a referral bonus that applies to all NYPNU positions. The referral bonus is $3000. Once the new hire passes probation, $2000 is paid out. If the new hire has 5 or more years of experience, the remaining $1000 is paid out after 1 year; for new hires with less than 5 years of experience, it is paid out after 18 months.