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Nurse/Patient Ratios Enforcement Campaign
The Hospital has provided the first quarter data on compliance with the nurse/patient ratios. On average, their numbers reveal a failure to comply with the contractual ratios on 5% of the day shifts and 11% of the night shifts. Numbers for “per visit” units, such as the ER, PACU and L&D, were not provided. The numbers for all other units were aggregated over the entire quarter so it is impossible to see fluctuations in the ratios over smaller increments of time. The second quarter data is now due, and we have requested that it be broken down by pay period. NYPNU will continue to pursue this issue.
According to the Hospital’s data, the unit with the most consistent ratio violations was 4 Wollman with violations on 35% of day shifts and 36% of night shifts. The Union filed a class action grievance on behalf of 4 Wollman nurses on 5/2/05. Since we were unable to schedule this grievance, we filed for arbitration.
Grievances and Unit Issues
A grievance was settled on behalf of a nurse who had been denied payment of the education differential after acquiring a degree in Acupunc-ture/Traditional Oriental Medicine. The Hospital agreed to properly compensate this member.
Vivian Leveille, the Nurse Manager on 9 Uris, suspended a nurse on the basis of unsubstantiated accusations. Despite manage-ment’s utter failure to investigate the matter or present any witnesses to corroborate the charges, the grievance was denied. To make matter worse, the alleged incidents took place three months prior to addressing the charges with the grievant. Needless to say, the delegates voted unanimously to take the matter to arbitration.
The Union has filed a class action grievance on behalf of 4 Lachman/4 East nurses who have been indefinitely displaced from 4 Lachman. As of the middle of June, the ACE unit on 4 Lachman has been closed; 4 East remains open. In the first week of July, construction displaced the 7 Wollman staff from their temporary quarters on 8 Wollman, and the Hospital relocated them to 4 Lachman, which is a much smaller unit. As a result, the majority of 4 Lachman/4 East nurses and half of the 7 Uris nurses on each shift are floating.
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As the Sunrise system has been implemented, clinical issues have started to arise. NYPNU will remain vigilant in ensuring that any issues with the Sunrise system that adversely affect patient care or have the potential to do so will be promptly addressed with the Hospital. Please bring such issues to the Union’s attention by contacting Naomi Zauderer in the Union office.
Holiday Scheduling
According to the contract, extra shifts off on holidays are to be distributed fairly and equitably on the basis of seniority. That means that no one should receive two extra shifts off during the four “summer” holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving) before everyone else has been offered one.
On some units, there has been a problem with scheduling holidays on the night shift. The Union’s position is that night shift employees who are entitled to the holiday should receive both the eve and the day. In allocating extra shifts, the eve and the day may be split.
Each unit is entitled to vote on whether to block out the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s on the vacation request sheet. This year Christmas week should be considered 12/18-12/24 with New Year’s week being 12/25-12/31.
Manager Evaluations
Thanks to all members who filled out manager evaluations. The response rate has been overwhelming! We are currently collating the data, which should be available by the next NYPNU Update.
AARN Report
At the recent quarterly meeting of the American Association of Registered Nurses, a coalition of independent nurses’ unions, the California Nurses Association proposed a joint campaign for a constitutional amendment on universal health care. The campaign, modeled on the fight for women’s suffrage, includes amending state constitutions as part of the organizing strategy. NYPNU will pursue this objective through the Working Families Party, which has pledged to make healthcare its signature campaign issue in 2006.
Political Action Committee
Jack Lester, a candidate for City Council in the 4th district, has been endorsed by NYPNU and the WFP. He will be the guest of honor at a House Party hosted by Don and Doris Shaeffer, at 799 Park Avenue at 74th St. on Monday, August 1st from 6:00-8:00 pm. All NYPNU members are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Naomi Zauderer.
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