New Delegate

The Delegate Assembly has appointed Charles Kyei to fill a delegate vacancy until the next election. He works nights on 8 East/Lachman. Welcome, Charles!

New Nurse/Patient Ratios

The Union would like to thank all nurses who have documented ratio violations since the new ratios went into effect. We have apprised management of recurrent violations on 4 Uris, 7 Uris, 5 Lachman, 5 Uris, 8 East/Lachman and 9 Lachman. As usual, management attributes the problem to excessive sick calls. However, some units simply do not have the necessary staff scheduled on a daily basis. In those cases, there are generally vacancies and/or nurses who are on orientation. Whatever the reason for the understaffing, management has a responsibility to supplement to meet the ratios. As a registered nurse with a license to protect and patients depending on you, you have a responsibility to exercise your professional judgment in determining whether an assignment is safe. If you take an unsafe assignment under protest, please fill out an incident report and ask your manager to sign the Unsafe Assignment Form. Be sure to give copies to both management and the Union.

Sick Time Reduction Incentive Program

We have, over the past decade or more, repeatedly proposed various payout formulas for a portion of unused sick time as an incentive to reduce sick time utilization. We are immensely pleased to announce that management has FINALLY agreed to a pilot sick time buyback program. The program will begin immediately and continue for the remainder of the year. It will work as follows:

• An RN must have 112 sick hours of prior sick time accrual (“the bank”) as of December 31, 2007.
• An RN can use no more than 23 hours of sick time from July through Dec.’08 .
• An RN must have no unexcused absences.

• An RN cannot call in sick on any day of a week in which the RN is scheduled to work four (4) days as her/his regular schedule.

• RNs calling in sick must call three (3) hours in advance of their scheduled start time.

RNs who meet these conditions may opt to be paid out in January 2009 as follows:

Number of sick hours used from July-Dec. 2008	Payout
0	45 hours
11.5	33.5 hours
23	22 hours

RNs who prefer to bank their time may choose to do so. Sick hours are always deducted from the current calendar year’s accrual before banked time is used. All hourly requirements and payouts will be prorated for part-time RNs.

As stated above, management has continuously cited excessive sick calls as the reason for understaffing and ratio violations. We are hopeful that this incentive program will reduce sick time utilization, be a potential financial benefit to RNs, and will assist management in meeting its contractual obligations. A similar program will be instituted from Jan.’09 and continue through Dec.’09. If this program is successful in reducing sick time utilization it will become a contractual benefit.

Annual Membership Meeting & Elections
Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Elections for Officers, Executive Board members and Delegates will be held. This is an opportunity to make a difference in your own life and the lives of your patients and coworkers! We are in particular need of delegates on the night shift. In addition to monitoring contract compliance—which is a responsibility of all members—delegates represent members in investigatory meetings, file grievances, attend grievance hearings, and meet once per month to address the issues confronting the Union.

Delegate training will be provided. If you are interested in running for a position, please pick up a petition at the Union office. Signed petitions are due back in the Union office on September 19th. Nominations can be taken from the floor only if the number of petitions submitted in advance is insufficient to fill all positions.

Farewell

Naomi Zauderer has been NYPNU’s Executive Director for the last 6 years, and it is with great sadness that we report she is leaving NYPNU. Naomi has, as you all know, served our membership with great distinction, dedication and skill. She is a respected colleague and we will miss her keen intellect, professional demeanor and determined advocacy on behalf of our members.