ADDENDUM to the Registered Nurses Collective Bargaining Agreement

Between

Cooper University Hospital and Health Professionals & Allied Employees AFT/AFL-CIO dated June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2009

             The purpose of this Addendum is to define unit-based pool, to establish a uniform Overtime (“OT”) / Pool Sign Up and Cancellation Procedure, and to modify Article 7.5, Article 9.7, Article 11.3 and Article 11.6.  To the extent that the Addendum conflicts with any provisions of the CBA, this Addendum shall govern.  The parties agree to amend the language of the contract as follows:

Section 9.7 Unit-Based Pool and Weekend Unit-Based Pool:

Unit-Based Pool

Unit-based pool are unit-based positions and shall follow the time, weekend, and holiday pool process per Articles 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3.  

Unit-based pool nurses will be paid either Level 1 or Level 2 pool rates depending on their commitment, plus shift differential.

Unit-based pool nurses will be expected to acquire and maintain the certifications and competencies of their assigned area.

Unit-based pool nurses will follow the float language outlined in Article 11 which includes 11.5 but will not be eligible for float pay.

Weekend Unit-Based Pool

Weekend unit-based pool nurses will work three (3) out of four (4) weekends (defined as two (2) 12 hour shifts from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday) as determined by patient care and unit staffing needs.  The routine process for requesting time off applies.  The weekend unit-based pool nurse will work the holiday that falls on his/her weekend to work.  Weekend unit-based pool nurses will be subject to floating as per Article 11.

Weekend unit-based nurses picking up additional or overtime shifts will follow the unit-based pool guidelines outlined above.

Weekend unit-based pool nurses are permitted two (2) call outs within a twelve (12) month floating period.  The third (3^rd) call out will result in suspension (2 days) (one call out occurrence equals 1 or 2 shifts in one weekend).  The fourth (4^th) call out will result in termination of employment.

Earned ESL will remain in the bank of regular full and part-time employees transferring into a unit-based weekend pool position.

Weekend unit-based pool nurses will be paid the Level One (1) pool rate plus shift differential for extra shifts worked.

Article 11.3 (Re) Assignment Guideline

(1)   When two or more nurses are determined by the Medical Center to be equally qualified utilizing the criteria in 11.1, the following guidelines will be utilized to float or (re)assign:

·        Agency Nurses

·        Volunteers

·        Pool/Baylor (determined by rotating in reverse order of bargaining unit seniority)

·        Unit-based pool then regular staff working outside of their unit

·        Unit-based pool then regular staff working additional time

·        Unit-based pool then regular staff

            The Agreement is amended to establish the following Overtime (“OT”)/Pool Sign Up and Cancellation Procedure:

            For purposes of this Addendum the following definitions apply:

“Specialty Units”- shall be defined as Perioperative, Cath Lab, Trauma and Maternity Units.

 “Additional Time” – time interval worked above an individual’s base hours up to 40 hours per week. (i.e.: someone who works 2 – 12hr shifts/week works an additional third shift during the week)

“Over Time” – any time interval worked that causes an individual to exceed 40 hours per week. (i.e.: someone who works 2 – 12hr shifts/week works an additional third shift but the fourth shift is overtime during a week)

            A.        Submission of time by regular (Level I and Level II) Pool staff

                        (1)  Pool nurses shall submit their schedule requests for base time to the unit scheduling coordinator or pool office by the “update to scheduler” date with the Per Se One Staff Timeline Grid.  Requests must be in writing and dated on the date submitted. 

                        (2) Any pool nurse request  submitted after the Per Se One Staff “update to staffer” date, shall be designated “Late Bucket” (whoever is in 602 in scheduler) in the nursing office or by the manager of the Specialty Unit. 

                        (3) After the first day of the posted schedule for all staff, including pool, all unscheduled or additional future time offered will be handled through the staffing office or the manager of the Specialty Units.

Italic refers to the Per Se timeline grid on the last page

            B.        Posting of Schedules and Sign up for Additional Time and Over Time.

                        (1) The Base Hours Schedule will be posted by at least the Per Se One Staff “final schedule posted” date.  At this time a “Needs List” will be posted on the units.  The unit manager will post all remaining available time for all bargaining unit nurses to sign up for additional time and overtime on their unit.  A uniform needs list form will be developed and used by all areas.

                                    a.  Level 1 Pool = 2 shifts/schedule base hours

b.  Level 2 Pool = 6 shifts/schedule base hours (3 shifts are weekend)

                        (2)  Additional time (non-overtime) will be assigned based on bargaining unit seniority (on that unit first), on a rotating basis by the unit manager after other factors, such as skill mix, shift duration, and unit needs are considered. 

                        (3)  Remaining time will be made available for overtime.  Overtime will be assigned based on bargaining unit seniority (on that unit first) on a rotating basis by the unit manager after other factors, such as skill mix, shift duration, and unit needs are considered. Overtime will not be approved until one week before the first day of the posted schedule.  (i.e.: anyone in the OT category)

                        (4)  The Final Schedule (including approved overtime) will then be posted in Per se and all Units.

                                    a.  time submitted but not approved by a unit will go into the “early bucket” if submitted before “update to Staffer” deadline.

                        (5) No agency time will be scheduled until all available time, considering skill mix, shift duration, and unit needs has been pulled from the Late Bucket. 

                        (6) To the extent this overtime staffing procedure conflicts with Article 7.5, the procedure in this Addendum shall govern.

            C.        Bumping and Cancellation Procedures

            The cancellation procedure for additional time and/or overtime shall be as follows:

                        (1)  Only Late Bucket nurses may be bumped after the Final Schedule (referenced in B.4. above) is posted. Alteration of schedules due to patient mix and complements shall not constitute bumping. (i.e an OR nurse is needed for a cardiac case, the nurse who is available with this competency will acquire the shift).

                        (2)  No nurse may be bumped within twenty-four (24) hours of scheduled work.  However, in the case of over staffing or low census, follow the Article 11.6 of the CBA which is incorporated herein by reference.

                        (3)  Staff working overtime or additional time will be permitted to cancel themselves at least  twenty-four (24) hours in advance Monday 7a – Friday 7a, and forty-eight (48) hours Friday 7p – Sunday 7p without being charged a PTU day for the purpose of discipline.  Regular full-time and part-time and limited part-time staff will receive PTU pay for late cancellation.  A late cancellation will result in a PTU for purposes of discipline. 

                        (4)  Staff working additional time will not be canceled on a regular prescheduled day when the overtime or additional shift was already worked during the week. (i.e.: an overtime shift was worked on Monday, the regularly scheduled shifts are Wed/Thurs/Fri so Friday is regular and won’t be considered an overtime shift for the purposes of cancelling)

11.6 Low Census/Overstaffing

     In the event that, after all options for reassignment have been exhausted as per article 11.3, available staff exceeds patient care needs or patient volume is less than the average daily volume, staff will be canceled and/or re-distributed as follows on a shift by shift basis in the following listed categories:

                                    - Agency nurses

                                    - Travelers

                                    -  Nurses in the late bucket

                                                Level 1 pool (includes Baylor and Level 3)

                                                Level 2 pool

                                                Staff

(Order of cancellation: date/time of submission followed by reverse order of bargaining unit seniority.)

                                    - Pool/Baylor nurses who are working overtime by reverse order of                                              bargaining unit seniority.

- Staff working overtime outside of their unit by reverse order of       bargaining unit seniority

- Staff working overtime by reverse order of bargaining unit seniority

-Offer PTO to those nurses who have made their PTO request known     

- Pool/Baylor working additional time by reverse order of bargaining unit seniority

- Staff working additional time outside of their unit by reverse order of bargaining unit seniority

- Staff working additional time by reverse order of bargaining unit seniority

                                    - Reassignment of staff to another unit for the purpose of                                                                      

                                      orientation

                                    -Weekday (Monday 7a – Friday 7p)

                                                Level 3 – weekend unit based pool

                                                Level 1 regular pool then unit based pool 

                                                Level 2 regular pool then unit based pool

                                    - Weekends (Friday 7p – Monday 7a)

                                         Level 1 regular pool then unit based pool

                                         Level 2 regular pool then unit based pool

                                         Level 3 - unit based working required time

-         Staff mandate in reverse order of seniority

(When 2 or more RNs have the same bargaining unit seniority in a listed category, then hospital seniority will be assessed and cancelled in reverse order.  If seniority remains identical, then the RN who has the highest employee number will be cancelled first.)

            Ie:        Bargaining unit seniority 6/15/05

                        Hospital seniority                      6/15/05

                        Employee number                     1234    vs         1235 (cancelled)

This Addendum will take effect _____________________________.

For:  Cooper University Hospital                       For:  Health Professionals & Allied

                                                                        Employees, AFT/AFL-CIO

____________________________                ______________________________

John P. Sheridan, Esq.

President & C.E.O.

____________________________                ______________________________

Douglas Allen

V.P. Human Resources

                                                                        ______________________________

                                                                        _______________________________

                                                                        _______________________________

Attachment:  Per Se One Staff Timeline