Updates

June 28, 2010

A vote was held on June 17, 2010 on whether or not the membership would agree to make further concessions in light of the hospital's financial difficulties. The result of the vote was no -- 66 / 48.

A Labor-Management meeting was held on June 24, 2010. The hospital announced its intent to increase the percentage paid for health insurance for HPAE members only, effective July 16, 2010 paycheck. For full-time employees, depending on salary and type of plan, it will increase from 8.96-19.61% to 20% and for part-time employees it will increase from 20.99-28.60% to 35%. Fortunately, Article 44 Section 3 of your contract limits the percentage to 20% for full time employees and 50% for part time employees.

Contact info:
President - Nicole Mankowski
551-689-3034 – nurseniki@optonline.net

Vice- President – Mary Alice Somers
201-792-9473 - 201-725-0158 -- MaryAli62@aol.com

HPAE Staff Representative -- Leo Torrey
201-262-5005 ext. 141

June 11, 2010

Opportunity to Support your Brothers and Sisters - Local 5147 Community Picnic

May 26, 2010

HPAE members, their families, and the community are invited to a picnic on Saturday, June 5th at Buchmuller Park.

May 13, 2010

Dear Members,

This is an update of the last membership meeting held on May 13, 2010.

Nicole Mankowski has been appointed President by the Local Executive Board, and has appointed Mary Alice Somers as Vice-President. Elections will be held in August, giving you the opportunity to elect officers.

Despite these changes, the union is carrying on, and will continue to fight to protect the rights and livelihood of the nurses at Christ Hospital.

Our last membership meeting had an excellent turnout! From this meeting, we were able to ascertain from our membership their input as to what extent, if any, the local is willing to contribute some form of relief to Christ Hospital, in light of it's significant financial problems

And you have spoken very clearly to us and we thank you. We will be in touch with you soon about future updates on this issue, and a possible vote, if need be, only on the issues spoken about. The input/vote from the membership will always be sought before any decisions are made. We thank you for your support, and we remain dedicated and committed to serving you as your Local Executive Board.

HPAE Local 5186

Local Executive Board

April 29, 2010

Local 5186 members recently experienced a layoff. This included the permanent closure of the 3 East medical/surgical unit. Staff reductions were based on the hospital decision that reduced census and government subsidies would not support our current nurse staff number. 53 nurses were affected by either layoff, reduced hours, and bumping (rights afforded in our contract). The final outcome was that three people will no longer be at Christ hospital. We wish all the best in their future as we will miss them.

Let us continue to support each other and provide for our patients. Speak out as you see any condition due to reduced staff and resources.

Management Announces Widespread Layoffs

But what's their plan?


Read the most up to date information here to find out how this affects you.

Message From the President

Greetings Nurses:

As many are aware from attending Membership Meetings, and reading flyers received at home or in the workplace, your new contract is in the final stages of printing. All members will receive a personal copy sent to them via mail, unit mailbox or by picking up a copy at the union office in the school of nursing on the THIRD TUESDAY of every month.

If you are not aware, having many legal reviews and proofreading sessions is a standard part of the procedure before the contract can be printed. Please remember that the Executive Board was negotiating the pension until October. Other locals are also awaiting final copies of their contracts.

Once you receive your copy read it carefully, and keep it accessible. There will be extra copies in the officers’ mailboxes as well as union office across the street. The office will be open for you to come and speak with your officers or representatives in privacy. Details will be posted on the union notice board near the cafeteria and read “Our door is open”.

Walk-thrus are often random but do not hesitate to stop and set aside a moment to update us on issues or request a more formalized time to meet at a mutually agreeable time. We want to be here and available to members.

There is a Holiday Party committee in place to provide a great seasonal event to relax and share friendship. Details of the event will be forthcoming.

Lastly but of the most significance is a request to consider becoming a point person for information or Unit Rep. There will be an informational and strategic planning luncheon at Café Bello in Bayonne shortly (see page 4) come out to hear about us. We want you to know we are working continually on all issues you bring forth.

Wishing a happy and healthy holiday to all.

In Unity,

Nicole Mankowski RNC

Vice President

Local 5186

Our Door is Open

Our door is open to you all on the third Tuesday of each month. Come on over to Christ Hospital School of Nursing campus. Use your ID swipe, enter and go to the left stairwell near the Library. Up to 4th level, Buzz in at School of Radiology; go around corner to left to room #86.

Meet and share ideas, concerns, get updates and material you might have missed. If privacy is needed call ahead to schedule time please. You can do this with any officer or chairperson.

Hours are flexible at this time until we can evaluate best times to serve our members.

Hope to see you.

Local 5186

Executive Board

Ban on Mandatory Overtime

The fact that healthcare facilities are requiring nurses and other health professionals to work long, unexpected hours of overtime is one of the reasons behind the current shortage of nurses and other health workers. The practice is also taking its toll on the quality of patient care.

A 2004 study revealed that nurses generally worked longer than scheduled and that approximately 40 percent of the work shifts they logged exceeded 12 hours. The risks of making an error significantly increased when work shifts were longer than 12 hours, when nurses worked overtime, or when they worked more than 40 hours per week.

Many local unions have negotiated contract language limiting the practice of mandatory overtime. At the federal level, the union has been working with legislators on a proposal that would require facilities receiving Medicare funding to stop mandating overtime. At the state level, many legislatures have passed bills or are considering legislation to ban mandatory overtime for health professionals.

Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), and other unions and organizations worked for nearly three years to pass the bill in New Jersey. The path to the passage of the bill began in the fall of 1998 when Patients First, a coalition of healthcare unions and consumer groups, developed a legislative package that covered issues such as mandatory overtime and needlestick safety. The coalition introduced a mandatory overtime bill in 1999, but it did not begin to move through the New Jersey Legislature until a year later. The bipartisan bill passed both houses of the Legislature in 2000, but was conditionally vetoed by Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.

The new bill was reintroduced in 2001, and by the fall, it had passed both houses of the Legislature. The bill became law one year from the date it was signed, a compromise that helped to remove the initial opposition the bill faced from the New Jersey Hospital Association. The New Jersey law is the toughest in the nation because it sets a maximum 40-hour workweek in hospitals and nursing homes for all health professionals who deliver patient care. Mandatory overtime would only be used in "unforeseen emergent circumstances" or an emergency situation, which is defined as "an unpredicted or unavoidable occurrence at unscheduled intervals relating to healthcare delivery."

The above is reprint from the AFT, here in New Jersey, we do have protection from mandatory overtime, and there are guidelines and penalties to regulate its use. Recently there was an issue in the hospital concerning a nurse needing clarification of the law. If you need or want information concerning this subject, or another work related issue contact a Union Representative.

President - Nichole Mankowski

Vice President - Mary Alice Somers

Secretary - Mary Kelly

Treasurer - Nancy Weinstein

Grievance Chair - Shelly Crowe

Labor Managemant Chair - Janice Mackanic

Staffing Chair - MaryAlice Sommers

Health & Safety Chair - Nicole Mankowski

HPAE Staff Rep - Leo Torrey (201) 262-5005 ext. 141

HPAE Support Staff - Lorraine Loiacono (201) 262-5005 ext. 123