HPAE Local 5135 at University of Medicine & Dentistry (UCHC RNs)

Read News Articles on Governor Christie's Plans for UMDNJ
January 26, 2012
Read

The Governor Has His Say on the Future of UMDNJ. Is Newark Really any Safer? And Our Conversation With the New Attorney General – What Are His Priorities?
Read More
HPAE, Community Groups Demand Governor Put Patients First and Protect University Hospital
January 25, 2012

HPAE is part of a broad coalition calling on Governor Christie to weigh the impact on public health and patient care in enacting the UMDNJ Advisory Committee's final recommendations.
Read the Statement Issued by HPAE and other Groups


Cunningham Statement on UMDNJ Committee Report
January 25, 2012
TRENTON -- Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham (D-Hudson), Chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, released the following statement today in response to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Advisory Committee report:
Read more


Governor's UMDNJ Merger Committee Issues Their Final Report
January 25, 2012

At a press conference held today, Governor Christie announced the findings of a final report issued by an Advisory Committee on the status of UMDNJ. An interim report was issued September 20, 2011.

Key findings of the report and remarks from the press conference are:

1. The State will maintain ownership of University Hospital, but there will be a public/private partnership in which the hospital will be managed by a private entity.

2. The findings of the Interim Report, which called for the transfor of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the Cancer Institute, and the School of Public Health to Rutgers University, were reaffirmed.

3. The remaining schools and entities of UMDNJ - including the New Jersey Medical School, the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey and University Behavioral Health Care - will become parts of a "New Jersey Health Sciences University" based in Newark, NJ.

4. There will be a consolidation of Rutgers University in Camden under the banner of Rowan University--all RU Camden assets will go to Rowan.

5. The Governor said the costs of these changes will be absorbed by the universities, but he believes they will be revenue neutral.

6. Regarding the workforce, the Governor stated, "We aren't eliminating anything, we are reorganizing--it is up to management in dealing with the workforce."

7. Governor Christie has not decided whether he will accomplish these changes by Executive Order or whether they will require legislation. He clearly stated he wants the mergers and reorganization to occur this year.

Read the Final Report
View Governor Christie's Statement at the Press Conference


Applications for Essex Labor Council Scholarships Now Available
December 2, 2011

Applications for the Essex-West Hudson Labor Council (AFL-CIO) scholarships are now available. To receive an award the recipient must be a high school senior and accepted at an accredited college. To be eligible for the award, the recipient must be the child or spouse of a member of a local union affiliated with the council.

Access and Print Out the Scholarship Application


Essex County Politicians Demand that UMDNJ, University Hospital Stay in Newark
November 18, 2011

At a press conference today, Newark Mayor Coorey Booker, Essex County Executive Joe Di'Vincenzo, and other Essex County politicians demanded that UMDNJ and University Hospital stay in Newark. They put forward a statement of principles to guide any future reorganization of UMDNJ.
Read an Article on the Press Conference
Read the Principles


HPAE, Other UMDNJ Union Leaders Meet with Corey Booker
November 3, 2011

Tom Murphy, Co-President of HPAE Local 5094, and other UMDNJ union leaders met with Newark Mayor Corey Booker yesterday to discuss the merger or reorganization of UMDNJ. Specifically, the union leaders expressed concerns that a merger could lead to a reduction or elimination of services to the community, the loss of jobs, and the elimination of collective bargaining rights. Mayor Booker agreed that high quality services to the community and educational opportunities must be maintained.

Also representing HPAE at the meeting were Jean Pierce and Adrien Doumlin-Smith.

Pictured below, Mayor Booker with HPAE and other UMD Union Leaders:

Hundreds gather in hearing on UMNDJ merger with Rutgers to speak out against proposed plan

Governor Christie's UMDNJ Announcement
Posted September 20, 2011

Today, Governor Christie announced that he will be merging Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (including the Cancer Institute of New Jersey) and the School of Public Health with Rutgers University through an executive order. The Governor indicated that no decisions about the future of University Hospital and the Newark Campus have been made yet pending the recommendation of the UMDNJ Advisory Committee.

HPAE is researching and analyzing these developments both in terms of their legality and the effect they could have on our members. Most immediately HPAE is working to ensure that our jobs, wages, benefits and seniority are protected.

We will keep you up to date on any new developments.

Christie gives preliminary OK to Rutgers, UMDNJ med school merger | Full Report (PDF)

Braun: UMDNJ and Barnabas Health negotiating takeover of University Hospital

Advice on Obtaining RN Experience Info From UMDNJ
July 25, 2011

As part of our recent contract settlement, the University will be placing staff RNs on an experience-based scale. Nurses are required to submit proof of their experience as RNs. In response to feedback that some RNs are having difficulty getting this proof, Pat Scully, from the Labor Relations Department, suggested the following:

"....As long as they (the Nurses) make a good faith effort to obtain the information, they should fill in the experience form to the best of their knowledge (being sure to indicate full time or part time or per diem for each employer), and make a note that they were not able to get the supporting documentation from the employer. We will work with them during the review. That is where their W-2 information for those years, or social security information will help to confirm their claims."


Membership Ratifies Tentative Contract Settlement
June 30, 2011

The membership has overwhelmingly voted to approve the tentative contract settlement reached last week with UMDNJ.
Read the Summary of the Contract Settlement


How Will Public Employees Be Affected By the New Health and Pension Benefits Law?
Posted June 28, 2011
Updated June 30, 2011

On June 28, 2011, Governor Christie signed into law the health and pension benefits legislation just passed by the State Assembly and Senate. Below is a summary of how the changes will affect HPAE members at UMDNJ.

Click here for a summary of the Health and Pension Benefits Law

Tentative Settlement Reached!
June 24, 2011

The Local 5135 Negotiations Committee reached a tentative settlement on the first contract with UMDNJ. The contract will be in effect until September 30, 2011, so negotiations for a successor contract will begin very soon. Ratification meetings will be held in all work sites through the end of the month.


Bargaining Update
May 31, 2011

The Local 5135 Negotiations Committee had a bargaining session with UMD management last week. Some progress was made toward a settlement.
Read a Summary of the Bargaining Session


HPAE United@UMDNJ: Have You Signed The Petition?
Posted May 24, 2011

Politicians are rapidly moving to dismantle UMDNJ and merge various units with other universities and organizations. The proposed restructuring can potentially affect every employee of UMDNJ, from every school and Unit.

If we stand together, we have an opportunity to shape the outcome.

We want a better UMDNJ. Our three HPAE Unions at UMDNJ have come together to launch HPAE United@UMDNJ—an extensive political action campaign to demand that those elected officials who will decide the fate of UMDNJ commit to the following principles:

1. UMDNJ's services must be maintained
2. The process must be transparent and include input from employees
3. Working families should not bear an additional tax burden
4. University Hospital should remain a public institution
5. Collective bargaining must be guaranteed
6. Our stalled negotiations must be resolved

Already over 1,000 of our co-workers have signed a petition supporting these goals. Can you help us reach 2,000?

Governor Christie’s plan is to divide us – our principles can unite us.

Click here to download the petition and circulate it to your co-workers.

Click here to read the principles and for answers to some frequently asked questions about the petition.


HPAE Leaders Meet in Response to Crisis at UMDNJ: Campaign to Save Community Services and Jobs Begins
April 21, 2011

On Tuesday, April 19, leaders from all three HPAE local unions at UMDNJ - Local 5089 (RNs), Local 5094 (non-nursing professional staff), and Local 5135 (UCHC RNs)- met to launch a new campaign in the face of the proposed restructuring of UMDNJ, the general assault on public employees, and management's refusal to bargain in good faith.

The leaders agreed on a set of principles for the campaign and decided to start a petition drive to get at least 2000 HPAE members to endorse these principles.

Members will be contacted next week regarding the campaign and the petition.

Read a Summary of the Leadership Meeting

Read the Principles


Merger Concerns
April 7, 2011

This Monday, April 4, Governor Christie appointed five people to the UMDNJ Advisory Committee. This committee will make recommendations by September 1st on whether some or all of the units of UMDNJ should be merged or taken over by Rutgers and other universities.

HPAE has serious concerns about the so-called merger and the process for deciding whether it should happen:

1. None of the individuals appointed to the committee are front-line staff who provide patient care, teach students, or do research – and yet these are the basic missions of UMDNJ. At the same time, labor organizations representing employees have been cut out of the process. Our voices need to be heard directly.
2. A merger or reorganization of UMDNJ may have a significant effect on the quality and scope of services currently provided by UMDNJ to the community, especially to our poorest and most vulnerable citizens.
3. A merger or reorganization of UMDNJ may cause additional layoffs and further reduce the compensation of UMDNJ staff. We have not received any salary increases in almost four years!

With help from our national union, the American Federation of Teachers, HPAE is researching all aspects of this process. We are also discussing our concerns with key political and community leaders. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that the interests and needs of the community, our patients, and our members are front and center.

We will keep you updated with any new developments.

If you would like to get involved in developing a strong union response, please click here to pledge your support.

Get Involved! Sign the "I'll be There" Pledge
Posted April 7, 2011

We are facing an unprecedented attack at UMDNJ. Gov Christie is blaming public workers for the economic crisis caused by Wall Street. Now he wants to increase the cost of our healthcare and break up UMDNJ—threatening our jobs and the services we provide. We have the power to fight back. Get involved!

Click here to sign the pledge and find out what you can do to protect your job, wages and benefits.

HPAE Testimony Regarding Higher Ed Taskforce Report, UMDNJ's Future
February 3, 2011
Governor Christie's Higher Education Taskforce recommended that some divisions of UMDNJ, including the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, should become part of Rutgers University. Jean Pierce, an HPAE Public Policy staffperson, gave testimony to the Assembly's Higher Education Committee on our approach to this issue. She emphasized the need to maintain medical services to the community and for staff to have direct input into the decision about UMDNJ's future.
Read More

LOAN REDEMPTION PROGRAM
Please note that all thirteen NJDOC sites have been approved as sites for the Primary Care Loan Redemption Program of New Jersey (see below).
If you are a primary care physician, dentist, certified nurse practitioner, or primary care physician assistant, and you have educational loans, please review the information Primary Care Loan Redempton Program of New Jersey

If you have any questions, please contact Monique Valentine at 973-972-4605.


HPAE Responds to Kean Commission Report on Higher Education and Christie's Executive Orders
January 5, 2011

On January 4, 2011, the Kean Commission Report on Higher Education in New Jersey was released. The report includes a number of recommendations that may have a significant impact on HPAE and other union members at UMDNJ. We are concerned that neither the workforce nor their unions have provided input on the future direction of higher education in New Jersey. HPAE will be developing a plan and strategy to make sure that our voice is heard.

A full copy of the commission's report, as well as the executive orders is available. Read More

Negotiations Updates
November 24, 2010

The Local 5135 Negotiations Committee and UMD representatives met last Monday to try to resolve the remaining issues of the contract negotiations, including salaries, the length of the contract, and a step scale.
Read More

November 8, 2010

The Local 5135 Negotiations Committee met with representatives from UMDNJ on November 4. Our first contract is almost completed, but there are still several issues remaining. We presented several proposals, including a counterproposal on wages. We have prepared a full report of the bargaining session.
Read More

October 16th Membership Meeting - Locals 5089 and 5135
October 19, 2010

Members from Local 5089 and Local 5135 met together on Saturday, October 16th at the East Windsor Holiday Inn Conference Center. The purpose of the day's activity was two-fold. More than thirty RNs and APNs participated in two Continuing Education sessions (3 contact hours). In addition, there was a lunch time meeting that included an update on contract negotiations with UMDNJ and a discussion of UCHC's announced intention to lay off staff due to a "reorganization".

Local 5089 President Elmer Daniels and Local 5135 President Sabrina Brown-Oliver convened the meeting and spoke of the common frustration of negotiating with UMDNJ when the University has decided to deny any economic improvements. In fact, the only way the Union was able to get UMDNJ to sit down and talk was to get the Public Employee Relation Commission (PERC) to issue a charge against UMDNJ for "failure to bargain". In the most recent negotiations by both Locals there was just a small amount of progress. The Negotiating Committees are still working to get to a settlement.

Meanwhile, UCHC has declared that they are going forward with a plan to "reorganize". This, undoubtably, will result in consolidation of some units at the larger Corrections facilities and transfers and layoffs of staff, including RNs. UMDNJ has told the Union that they will be implimenting the UCHC changes sometime around November 1st.

Members were urged to call the Union (1-800-801-5005 ext. 136) as soon as any RN has received notice of transfer or layoff. According to signed agreements, UMDNJ should be giving the Union this information within 24 hours of any layoff. However, if you are affected by the layoff, please contact us immediately.

HPAE is getting the word out to our elected representatives about this reduction of staff and services. Meetings are being scheduled with legislators and members will be involved in these meetings. The public needs to be made aware of what is happening and what the consequences of substantial cutbacks will be.

July 19, 2010

1. Sabrina and Tee Local 5135 president and secretary attended AFT convention from July 7-11. Convention up dates:
   More than 3,000 delegates attended the 2010 AFT convention in Seattle and helped make the event a tremendous success. Attendees heard from several excellent speakers, including AFL-CIO president Richard Trumann, NAACP president Ben Jealous and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. They also debated and adopted new AFT resolutions, and re-elected the slate of AFT officers.

   The schedule in Seattle was very full. Read the daily summaries and watch video highlights of in-depth convention coverage of each day's proceedings. You can also read the AF T's "2008-2010 State of the Union" report, and can visit www.aft.org/convention for convention press releases, lists of award winners and more.

   Thank you for another great convention. See you in Detroit in 2012!

   In unity,
   AFT

2. June 30 2010: Public Employee Relations Commission Meeting by Locals HPAE 5135, 5094, 5089 and UMDNJ

   UCHC has agreed to provided a written response to HPAE locals 5135 negotiations by July 7, 2010. If UMDNJ fails to provide a response by July 7,2010. Ms Ferrara (Assistant to Director of Unfair Practices) will forward complaints to Director of Unfair Practices. No response has been received from UMDNJ as of the date of this update. The charges carry the weight of an indictment. As of July 8, 2010. It has been forwards to Director of Unfair Practices and an indictment( Unfair Labor Practices) has been charged in our locals behalf. A hearing will be scheduled the date to be announced.

   Charges raised by other HPAE locals 5094 and 5089 will commence negotiation for successor collective agreement by the end of July 2010. An update is to be forward by HPAE on the status all three negotiation by August 6, 2010 to Ms. Ferrara Assistant to the Director of Unfair Practices.

   To clarify the rumor that Psych RN's have received pay raises. The psych RN's are part of local 5089 contract. They has not received an pay increases. No HPAE local has received any pay increases. All HPAPE locals 5135, 5089, 5094 ended on June 30, 2010. Existing contracts are still enforceable. If further clarification is needed than please contact me at sbrownoliver@yahoo.com or brownosr@umdnj.edu or by phone cell 848 469-6588 or home 732 502-0048

3. CEU Opportunities RN and APN

   TB INTENSIVE WORKSHOP
   SEPTEMBER 14-16, 2010
   CNE/CME CERTIFIED ACTIVITY

   Course Location
   New Jersey Medical School Global Tuberculosis Institute
   225 Warren St. 1st Floor
   Newark, New Jersey
   Cost 75 by 8/31/10 20 ceu
   All employee are encourage to attend and you can use your tuition reimbursement for this event.
   all RN's have 3 conference days per union contract.

Contract Negotiations Update

May 27, 2010

Unfair Labor Practice Petition is in Circulation: All Union Representatives- Please take the initiative to print this petition and circulate it in your facility. Please make this available to all RNs on staff. Please forward all copies to Paul Friedman, HPAE at 201-262-1482.

May 19, 2010

A Message From Your Local 5135 Officers and Representatives To Our RN & APN Colleagues

In the last two weeks, there have been several discussions with UMDNJ/UCHC regarding our contract. This is an update of where the negotiations stand at this point.

It is especially difficult to reach a contract agreement due to a new law, signed by Governor Christie on April 1, which requires ALL public and state employees to contribute 1.5% of BASE pay for health insurance premiums beginning May 22, 2010. (Read a summary of the legislation here) Since we should be following the HPAE Local 5089 contract with regards to all of our benefits including health care, and because that contract ends on June 30, 2010, consequently, there is no justification for UMDNJ to deduct this money from anyone’s salary prior to July 1, 2010. We can expect that starting in July, 1.5% of an employee’s base pay (i.e. excluding shift differentials, overtime pay, etc.) is going to be deducted in pre-tax dollars; this will minimize the overall impact. It is important to understand that this is not coming from HPAE or UCHC; this is state legislation.

UMDNJ/UCHC has not been negotiating in good faith

We previously filed an unfair practice charge against UMDNJ/UCHC in order to address this when UCHC initially stopped negotiating and walked away from the table in January. When they agreed to come back to the table and “negotiate in good faith” the complaint was placed on hold. The union officers and representatives are currently looking into re-establishing this complaint since it appears that UMDNJ/UCHC is not making a good-faith effort to settle the contract. Their position is that they have nothing to offer us.

Recently, the Local 5135 officers met with the UMDNJ/UCHC negotiation team in order to establish a contract and delay the inevitable deduction for our health benefits, without any success. All of the options that we presented to their Management negotiating team have been rejected, even though we were willing to make some concessions. UMDNJ/UCHC continues to reject any and all discussion in regard to salary and a pay scale for established nurses.

HPAE representatives and officers are aware that recently-hired nurses were brought in with a starting salary that may exceed or equal the pay of many nurses who have been employed with UMDNJ/UCHC from the beginning. This is one issue that the union is attempting to work out fairly.

While it has been a very long battle, your support is greatly appreciated. We are trying to negotiate fairly with the nurses in mind. Please stay informed, and continue to stay united while we push forward.

Your Facility 5135 Representatives/liaisons will be asking you to sign our Petition to the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) to issue a complaint against UMDNJ for failure to bargain in good faith with its Nurses.

Sincerely,

HPAE Local 5135 Negotiating Committee, Union Representatives and officers
Sabrina Brown-Oliver, APN, President
Teressa Clark,RN, Secretary-Treasurer

May 13, 2010

A conference call has been set up for Union Representatives and Union Officers only on Friday 05/14/10 8 pm. This meeting is to discuss the feed back from UMDNJ.

April 28, 2010

Informal Meeting
While negotiations have been cancelled for April 30th's meeting, we will be holding an informal meeting between UMD leadership and local leadership.

Save the Date
On Saturday, May 8, 2010 we will be hosting a leadership training with officers and grievance chairs. The goal of this day will be to provide training in handling grievances as well as to solidify the goals and governance of our local. It will be held at the East Windsor Holiday Inn. If you have any questions, contact Paul Friedman at pfriedman@hpae.org.

Negotiating Committee Meeting
The Negotiating Team will meet on April 29th, but only for Theresa Clark, Sabrina Brown Oliver, Denise Johnson. All other Negotiation team members don't need to attend.

AFT Conference
Don't forget about the AFT Conference July 7-11th in Seattle, Washington. Speak to your local officers for more information.

HPAE Nurses Give Testimony to the Assembly Appropriations Committee Concerning Effects of Proposed Pension Cuts

Futilely attempting to derail a bipartisan bill that would eliminate accidental and ordinary disability retirement for PERS employees, nurses and probation workers bashed the legislature and Democrats - then savaged Christie for - in their view - disrespecting their ranks in his budget speech. "I have been kicked, stabbed... I guy with a black belt wrote he was going to assassinate us," said Barbara Esser, a public employee nurse at Reynolds Hospital. "The double-dipping and other games have nothing to do with us, and I totally resent being characterized as a greedy, selfish public employee." Click here to read what nurses had to say

Update on Negotiations

Breaking News: As we went to press we received word that UMDNJ cancelled our December 14 negotiations. This is very disappointing because the plan was to discuss salary issues. We will be communicating with you about this latest development in the next few days.

I want to give a broad summary of where we are at in negotiations. Although it has taken a long time, especially for those of you have sat through numerous meetings, the amount of time we've taken is not unusual for first contracts.

There is now only one outstanding non-economic section we have not reached agreement on. That issue is embodied in Article 4 Section 4.06: Transfer & Promotions. The specific issue is what role "probation" will play in these circumstances.

All other proposals that have not been agreed to are mainly or exclusively economic in nature. First and foremost are salaries. Others open proposals are the various differentials, including educational differentials. There is still the issue of when and how we absorb the 1.5% pre-tax co-pay for health premiums. This is not just an issue for us, but all UMDNJ union-eligible employees (managers have been paying the 1.5% for over a year now).

At the last session on October 29th we signed-off on staff development programs, seniority and layoff procedures. We also came to agreement on letters that would create methods for employee feedback on management and leadership and a process to review overtime-exempt employees (APNs/NPs) assignments when there is a regular requirement of excessive hours to complete responsibilities.

We did not reach agreement on how and when the Union gets informed about staffing pattern changes.

We agreed to have our President and Secretary-Treasurer (Sabrina and Teresa) work with Magie Conrad and Denise Rahaman on coming back to the whole group with acceptable language.

We also failed to reach agreement on compensation in the event of a lock-down. We are asking for all hours, including sleep time while a Nurse is kept at a facility due to a lock down, to count for compensation. Management wants to exclude the time that a Nurse sleeps.

Negotiations will resume on Monday, December 14th at 9AM in New Brunswick .
HR will have its VP available in the building while we are negotiating. That is a sign that we are getting to "crunch time".

Any agreement must be ratified by the membership

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

My name is Sabrina R. Brown Oliver RN APN BC. I have been working in corrections for the past 3 years at Albert C. Wagner. I have been a part of the HPAE family for 11 years prior to becoming President of our Local 5135.

It gives me great pleasure to write my first column to you as president of HPAE Local 5135. These first months of being President have been both fun and challenging, and I want to share with you some information.

Local 5135 structure

Our Union's Secretary/ Treasurer is Ms Teresa ("Tee") Clark, RN. She is located at Mid State Correctional Facility.

Union liaisons have been temporarily designated for each UCHC facility during the formation of our Union. Petitions are now being circulated to determine who your facility's Union Representative will be. We strongly encourage participation from our members in this matter. Once a Petition with a majority of members signatures is submitted, the Representative will take on the responsibilities and obligations of the former Liaison position.

The by-laws of your union, Local 5135, calls for the elected officers to appoint Chairs of committees. Consequently, Teressa and I have appointed Grievance Chairs for each UCHC Region. They are: Denise Johnson APN (NSP) for the Northern Region, Benita Ware RN (ACW) for the Central Region and Roni Feldman APN (SWSP) for the Southern Region. Please forward any grievances to the appropriate Grievance Chairperson. They in turn will forward all grievances to Denise Johnson who has been designated Lead Grievance chair.

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