Updates

A Message from Lorraine Thone

July 26, 2010

Hello fellow union representatives, I wanted to introduce myself and to inform all of some upcoming events.

1. I am Lorraine Thone- new VP of Memorial. Hired in Aug 2007 on 7 Stokes. My education started with a BA in Criminal Justice/ Political Science. Received my AAS from BCC in May 2007. Worked in many different areas (police, Army National Guard, Home Depot, Industrial Hygienist & lab tech for Environmental Co., Security, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, FMC Dialysis Tech and most impt. being a mom). Nursing wasn't my initial passion-obviously, but has surprisingly been a great reward on many levels. I was honored to be nominated and elected as VP. I wanted to be a part of the executive board team to ensure that nurses are represented fairly with management and able to take care of our patients to the best of their ability. As a team at Memorial we can do that "together". I feel we have an exemplary executive board directed under Deb White.




2. I have compiled a list of reps from each dept. If you are on this list by error or if you decide that you no longer want to represent your dept.- please let me know. I want to thank everyone for continuing to represent or accepting to represent your dept, or floor. In the upcoming contract year it will be essential to get info out to reps and staff.




3. Mark your calendar days:
   • New Rep training: Sept 10. 10am-2pm Best Western Rt. 541 (NJ Tpke exit)
     (I encourage all new reps to attend, lots of valuable info- held by Fred DeLuca)
   • Rep Meeting: Sept 15. 7-9pm, Best Western Rt. 541 (NJ Tpke exit)
   • HPAE Conference: Sept 30 & Oct 1st, Atlantic City
     Click here to register
   • General Membership Meeting: Oct 20. 5-9pm
   • Rep Christmas Party & Mtg.: Dec. 2. time & place TBD

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to meeting and seeing everyone in Sept. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Sincerely, Lorraine Thone VP
Lorraine.thone@verizon.net
856-296-2360 cell

Arbitration Win

In Decemeber of 2008 Andrea Gorsky Cochran was terminated from her position on 6 Stokes. Andrea was accused of signing in on-call when she was on straight time, something she adamantly denied. We filed a grievance for "termination without just cause" and took the process all the way to arbitration. The arbitration, which began last fall, lasted 5 full days.
On April 6th we received the decision by the arbitrator:

"The grievance is sustained. Virtua shall reinstate the Grievant, make her whole for all lost wages and benefits, and remove all mention of the notices of suspension and termination from (her) file."

Though we are still working on the specifics of the settlement, we congratulate both Andrea and our local for the win!

Remember, as a union member, you always have recourse!

Save The Date

June 3, 2010

June 16 -
Dinner with an Officer - 6pm to 8pm - Outside Memorial Cafeteria

September 15th -
Rep meeting - 7pm - Best Western - Westampton Route 541

September 23rd -
Dinner with an Officer - 6pm to 8pm - Outside Memorial Cafeteria

October 20th -
General Membership Meeting - Time TBD

November 18 -
Dinner with an Officer - 6pm to 8pm - Outside memorial Cafeteria

December 2 -
Rep Meeting - 6pm

NEW LOCAL OFFICERS ELECTED

May 17, 2010

The results are in and the new Executive Board for Local 5105 effective June 1, 2010 is as follows:

President – Debbie White
VP Hospital – Lorraine Thone
VP CNS – Claudia Storicks
Secretary/Treasurer Latoya Meyers
Grievance Chair Hospital – Sheryl Mount
Grievance Chair CNS – Patty Nelson

A huge thank you goes out to our Nomination and Election Committee members – Chair – Judy Giberson, Barbara Damush and Joan Johnson.

Employee Caring Fund – St. Vincent DePaul

May 17, 2010

A call has gone out from Virtua’s executives that donations are needed to the fund, because support has been distributed to many fellow employees. I would encourage members to donate to this fund as this is also where we direct members for help. I would also hope that Virtua’s management would be budgeting dollars for this fund in this time of great economic hardship, in an effort to show themselves as an outstanding employer. Thanks for your support.

May 2010 Newsletter

Click here to read The Patient Advocate from May 2010

April 13, 2010

There will be a General Membership Meeting on May 4 at 7:00p. More details to follow.

March 23, 2010

For members that are certified, in order to receive your bonus this year for certification, you need to:

1. download the form to request the certification bonus
2. give the form with proof of your current certification to your supervisor by April 15.

Otherwise, you will not receive a bonus this year for certification. The checks will be distributed during Nurses week by the employer.

In Solidarity,

Claudia Storicks
President
HPAE Local 5105

Message from the President

Since starting this role as President, I have learned a lot more about the Hospital portions of the contract and the issues that plague our hospital members on a day to day basis.

At contract negotiations, management was very clear that they had no desire to include anything more than was already in the contract regarding staffing. Although there is a law about posting the staffing on each unit which follows a very unclear description, they were unwilling to take this any further and make it more concrete. The most recent Labor Management meeting gave me new insight as to why this might be. We have requested a copy of the staffing matrix which many of you reported seems to have changed. We were told at this meeting that it has not changed, but rather they were sticking more closely to the matrix due to budgetary constraints.

Press Ganey results are improved and now we will be asked to sustain these results and continue to improve while taking care of more patients, and attending rounds that take away from time with patients. We’re expected to do all doing all of this perfectly and to please even the highest expectations of our patients and their families. I believe that is exactly what all of us as nurses want to do, be excellent nurses and meet our patients’ needs. The conditions under which we try to achieve this excellence are what are changing.

Management has told us that they have increased the number of observers available so our aids will not be pulled off the floor to do one to one’s. They have pledged to ensure that ancillary personnel in the way of aids, unit secretaries and observers be available so that nurses can do the tasks of running IV’s, assessments, passing meds, teaching etc.

Management also takes great offense to our Unsafe Staffing Reports, but if in your professional opinion, the assignment you have been given is unsafe, you need to fill out the form and include the conditions that make it unsafe such as the number of patients, patient acuity, lack of support personnel and who you contacted to obtain additional help for the unit such as your manager and the reason given why they did not provide you with additional help. This is your record and protection in case something would happen. The fact that a major incident did not occur, is a tribute to your skill. Also, be aware that the form does not have to be filled out and turned in on that day if you are too busy to fill out the form; it can be turned in at a later time, but should be as soon after the occurrence as possible. The issues regarding staffing are pursued at the staffing committee meeting and the unsafe staffing reports are reviewed at that time with management.

We also have an election coming up for the leadership of our Local. While I have learned a lot in this position, it has been a very difficult juggling act to maintain a fulltime 5 day a week position at Virtua and meet the needs of the Local as your President. We have had a pretty stable leadership over the years, but most of the officers have been leading us since the inception of the Local and now find that they are at a place where they would like more time with their families. Therefore, the Nomination and Election Committee are looking for members willing to step up and fill those positions. To have more than one candidate for each position would be awesome. I have always said, if someone wants to do the work I am doing, I can always find other work to do in any volunteer organization I have been involved in. Anyone willing to step up should know that there will be training, mentoring and lots of fun and good times. I have found it rewarding to know that what I do not only helps our members, but our patients as well. Joan Johnson and Sue Raup have expressed that they will not seek reelection, but will continue as reps and active members. We thank them for the many years of service and the phenomenal job they have done with representing our members and negotiating our contracts. We look forward to continuing to work with them in their new roles.

Lastly, I want to let you know I have enjoyed talking to many of you outside the cafeteria on the two occasions I have held hours there to meet you informally. I hope to see more of you in the coming months and look forward to seeing as many of you as can at the General Membership meeting on May 4th.

Claudia Storicks
President Local 5105

WHAT’S COMING UP

Dinner with Local officer outside the Memorial cafeteria by the vending machines from 6pm to 8pm on June 16, 2010

AFT National convention July 7-11, 2010 in Seattle. Anyone interested in attending, please let the Local Executive Board now by the June 2 Rep meeting.

Rep Meeting on Wednesday, September 15 at 7pm, location to be announced

State Convention in Atlantic City tentatively scheduled for Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1. Registration to the Convention will be reimbursed by the Local after the convention. A limited number of double occupancy rooms will also be available on a first come first paid basis. Contact the Local Executive Board as soon as you can to reserve your spot. This is always a good time.

General Membership meeting— Wednesday, October 20, 2010.

Newsletters

The Patient Advocate - May 2010
The Patient Advocate - March 2010

Local Officers List

President – Debbie White; debbie461@aol.com
VP Hospital – Lorraine Thone; lorraine.thone@verizon.net
VP CNS – Claudia Storicks; mumskool@comcast.net
Secretary/Treasurer - Latoya Meyers; latoya.watson@comcast.net
Grievance Chair Hospital – Sheryl Mount; itsme0063@comcast.net
Grievance Chair CNS – Patty Nelson; pabeddie@comcast.net

HPAE Staff Rep - Fred DeLuca (732) 774-9440
Office #7 - 2260 State Highway 33 - Neptune, NJ 07753
- Sandy Theriaque 201-262-5005 ext. 125