Healthcare News: HPAE filed grievance on behalf of 34 fired nurses

HPAE filed grievance on behalf of 34 fired nurses
HPAE 5185 filed a grievance with the American Arbitration Association alleging Bayonne Medical Center did not make "a good faith effort to prevent the layoffs." HPAE said that no managers were fired, that employees were not terminated according to seniority and management did not request for volunteers, as required by the new contract signed in June this year. "We are still fighting the layoffs," said Donna Benjamin, president, "They (the laid off workers) can be rehired without loss of seniority. We need experienced people." The Jersey Journal, http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/bayonne/index.ssf?/base/news-5/125489672...

MASSACHUSETTS: Hospital Workers vote yes on union
Nearly 600 workers at Norwood Hospital voted 302 to 106 to join the SEIU. Norwood is the third hospital to unionize this year in the Caritas Christi Health Care system (Boston-based Catholic chain). SEIU 1199 and Caritas had agreed in January to allow “free and fair” elections, i.e. restricting managers from lobbying workers to reject the union and prohibiting labor leaders from disparaging the system’s hospitals. Boston.com, http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2009/10/07/hospital_s...

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
CALIFORNIA: Union receiving 12% raise over three years
About 450 housekeepers, cooks, janitors and other workers at Washington Hospital overwhelmingly ratified a new contract that gives them a 12% raise over 3 years and no cuts in health benefits. The raises are as follows: 5% retroactive to 2008, 3.5% this and next year. The workers are represented by SEIU. InsideBayArea, www.insidebayarea.com/mytown/ci_13319183

NEW YORK: University center workers reached agreement on new contract
After protracted negotiation since March, 2009, clerical workers and technicians represented by SEIU 1199, finally reached an agreement with the Columbia University Medical Center. The main features of the new agreement are: continuation of free medical plan and child care subsidies; creation of a “jobs committee” providing greater protection for laid-off workers seeking re-employment; clarification of “temporary and casual” workers. Columbia Spectator, www.columbiaspectator.com/printer/view?nid=27370

NEW YORK: State Mediator called in for Cayuga county and its nurses union
After failing to reach agreement on a new contract (the old one expired December last year) and with an impasse filed in August by the union, both the County and its nurses will meet with a state-appointed mediator. The last offer from the County 2% increases in each year of 3-year contract and increased health insurance premiums offered by the County. The Post-Standard, http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/cayuga_county_and_nurses_...

WASHINGTON: Contract dispute brings union and hospital to Admin Judge
After a year of failed bargaining, Community Health Systems, Inc. and its 1,100 unionized employees are going before an administrative law judge. The workers, represented by SEIU 1199, claim that the hospital has not bargained in good faith and has engaged in union-busting activities, e.g. refusal to make new proposals, withholding information and not responding to the union’s offers. If the judge determines that union’s allegations have merit the complaints will go before NLRB. Spokane Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/04/hospital-owners-dispute-wit...

LEGAL & LEGISLATIVE
Nevada: Hospital Agreed to Stop Harassing RNs
MountainView Hospital and HCA, its parent company, agreed in a settlement with NLRB to halt their surveillance, interrogation, bribery, threats, other unfair treatment of RNs. They will also post the settlement notices throughout the hospital and send its commitment electronically to every RN. The settlement resulted from a 2-month investigation by NLRB after the RNs filed a series of unfair practices against the hospital one week before a scheduled election for representation by CNA/NNOC. NNOC/CNA press release, http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2009/october/faced-...

NEW JERSEY: Governor signs law on hospital error reporting
Gov. Jon S. Corzine had signed a law requiring hospitals to report publicly on their performance in patient-safety areas including serious medical errors. The law will also prevent hospitals from requiring patients to pay for those medical errors. The state Department of Health and Senior Services is tasked with preparing an annual “patient-safety” report to be released later this year. It will not only contain numbers and rates of adverse events at each hospital, but also offer statewide and national comparisons. HPAE, http://www.hpae.org/newsroom/articles/20090901_errorreportinglaw