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June 23, 2008 Dear HPAE Local 5118 Member, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet with you last week to discuss the “charge role positions” on your unit. For those of you who were unable to attend our meetings, we think it’s important to reiterate our discussions for all of you.
During a meeting with nurses from another unit we discussed the many problems they face everyday when they come to work and what they need to give the best patient care as possible. After we met, the nurses and your Local Union leadership met with nursing administration to review the stated concerns, which included having charge positions throughout the hospital without the nurse having a full assignment. This is not the first time your union leadership proposed having charge positions that did not include also having a full assignment. Unfortunately, your nursing administration does not agree. When the hospital refused to consider our charge nurse proposal we “reminded” them that they continue to violate the collective bargaining agreement (your union contract) by not allowing all units in the hospital to have the same charge nurse arrangement as your unit has had for many years. We raised this same issue with them last year as well, giving them ample time to consider our same proposal as we gave them at our most recent meeting. They did nothing!
As a professional union, we work very hard to ensure that the hospital properly administers your contract. We cannot and will not allow them to violate it when it benefits them. We understand the benefit of having charge nurses with no assignments, that’s what we want however; we want it for all nurses throughout the hospital. This is the only fair and equitable way to address the issue. We will again propose this during your upcoming negotiations. You raised many valid questions when we met last week. Your Local Executive Board suggest we meet with you to further discuss your concerns, develop proposals to address your concerns and schedule a meeting with nursing administration for you to present your concerns and solutions. If you are interested in doing so, please contact one of your Local Executive Board members or your Union Rep, Donna Witiw.
In Solidarity,
Cc: Local 5118 Executive Board
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