New Bridge Labor Management Notes, May 5, 2021 - Health Professionals & Allied Employees

New Bridge Labor Management Notes, May 5, 2021

Labor Management Meeting      5/4/2021

Auditorium Building 6

In attendance :

Union – Jeff Peck – (Sheila Schicker and Margaret Merchant via conference call)

Hospital

HR – Jim Nisivoccia –Tom Dowling- Carrie Dehls – Roy Park – Tom Carey

Acute – Joanne Velardi

Security – Rose Mclaughlin

LTC – Grace Vickerie

Pharmacy – George Piltz

IC – Marie Rella

CNO – Thom Amitrano

Quality – Shari Gold

ED – Gina Russo

Beh Health – Pablo Sanchez

Item  #1   Vacation and time off request 

Jeff Peck
Personal days being requested 10 days in advance are being denied. Not fair. Request for 3 vacation weeks in a row are being denied even if available because its 3 weeks. Management holds the line at 2 weeks. We in HPAE feel the 3 weeks actually helps management. Does not make sense.

Joanne Velardi
Vacation  , Holidays , Personal days we always try to give off as many personal days as we can. It is difficult at times but we do try. We sometimes ask if they can get someone to cover. 3 weeks vacation in a row are not being approved during peak vacation time.

Jim Nisivoccia
There is excessive cost associated with covering vacations with co workers. We want to eliminate it unless it is not on overtime and patient care and employee safety are not compromised. The dept head should make that call.

Jeff Peck
You reference policy. We (HPAE) consider the contract policy. If you would give 3 weeks during the summer it will help throughout the entire year. ( Thanksgiving  , Christmas etc.)

Jim Nisivoccia
We want to be able to talk it out. We can and will address it prior to the next negotiations. It is a major problem. We need to get on the same page. I encourage management and the union to work together on this topic.

Gina Russo
It is difficult to give 3 weeks vacation in a row during summer time. In my dept the employees work together to try and ensure that everyone gets what they need. They don’t request 3 weeks in a row.

Jim Nisivoccia
The meeting we are having right now should happen with the union and dept heads. Communicate clearly.

Jeff Peck
This year we went paperless. There are no forms to see what is available. We have a communication on our part as well. Some members do not even know the process for vacation selection.

Grace Vickerie
We sent a memo out on 1/15/2021 in reference to vacation time, personal time and sick time.

Jeff Peck
This is a learning moment. All departments should do the same. All directors present at the meeting indicated that they are doing the same as Grace in Long Term Care.

Jim Nisivoccia
In the beginning of the year this was communicated to the departments by HR. Next year will do email blast on the first of the year. Clear communication is very important to the employees.

Jeff Peck
Will have a follow up meeting with Sheila Schicker myself ,  Jim and Tom from labor relations to avoid these types of issues .

Jim Nisivoccia
I agree and lets make sure we involve all those necessary to be certain we clearly communicate the same message to all departments.

Margaret Merchant
There is a problem with personal time requested months in advance being denied. People asking in January for time off in July, August , October is being denied. It is not right.

Jim Nisivoccia
This issue was addressed in Long Term Care. Others had already had the days off and were senior employees. I suggest management and union members sit down and validate .

Joanne Velardi
We try to get everyone what they need. We do not benefit by not getting employees the time off they requested. Improved communication will help.

Sheila Schicker
I agree with Jim. Clear communication from the start will help avoid these types of situations.

 

Item # 2    Read and Sign Document

 

Jeff Peck
Poor way to do business. It is hard to predict what can happen in Behavioral Health. Employees do want to participate in groups but can be taken off plan easily.

Jim Nisivoccia
The department heads and managers are working on the schedules to reflect better what needs to be done and when. We do understand employees can be taken off plan. Tom and I have had discussions about this and have found discrepancies. We reviewed those discrepancies and management has committed to address and revisit until the form is accurate. We all need to communicate better to work through issues.

 

Item  #  3   Net Learning

 

Jeff Peck
Sally Corbo. We need more in house training. Want to avoid going outside the hospital to ensure consistency in the training. The hospital wants a higher standard and so do we and feel a classroom setting is the way to go and not just computer based training.

Jim Nisivoccia
Net Learning is valid. We must get certifications done in order to be in compliance. Outside training can be fraudulent with certifications and we want to ensure our employees get the proper training to care for our residents and patients.

Margaret Merchant
I did my training outside of the hospital. All was good. Completed the training in 4 hours and got my card.

Jim Nisivoccia
There is opportunity here to get the training done. We want to help employees be proficient.

Margaret Merchant
Need more in person classes. I had to do it at home.

Joanne Velardi
We used to try to do that but it takes long and is not motivating.

Gina Russo
CPR and ACLS certifications are no joke. Employees need to be confident and competent in order to care for patients.

Jim Nisivoccia
Will talk to Sally Corbo. In the past we have had employees sign up for training here at the hospital and not show up. We will take a look at it.

Sheila Schicker
So are you saying moving forward you will or you will not ask members to sign the Read and Sign Form ?

Jim Nisivoccia
We will look at the process to ensure accuracy as far as expectations.

Sheila Schicker
So members that refuse to sign we bring to you ?

Jim Nisivoccia
No. We want to get all involved to recognize the importance of groups and Teamwork.

 

Item # 4    Management doing bargaining unit work

 

Jeff Peck
Apparently get a rebate to do certain types of groups. Having social workers sit with supervisor during group on BG.

Sheila Schicker
I have been told there is an outside person doing suicide prevention groups and asking social workers to sit in and it is causing them to lose an hour they could have been doing their own work.

Pablo Sanchez
Yes someone does come in to do Suicide prevention. I don’t think the social worker loses 1 hour is correct. They sit in to possibly redirect a patient out. Does not always have to be a social worker .We will revisit.

Jim Nisivoccia
Need more information so it can be shared with Kris Pendy.

Shari Gold
Groups are a priority. It will be good to get Kris involved.

Jeff Peck
Glad it is a priority and we will get these things resolved.

Jim Nisivoccia
This is a pretty effective meeting. I want this type of dialogue to happen in all department Also we get with every employee.

 

Item # 5     Agency Workers ( Covid Vaccination Program)

 

Jeff Peck
The Covid program is a great opportunity to sell what we do here. Agency workers do not sell the hospital.

It is too hard to get in here. Higher standards than other hospitals. Employees go to other hospitals and get hired on the spot.

Gina Russo
Candidates are not coming. Bring me candidates and we will work with them.

Jim Nisivoccia
Discussion with Thom Amitrano and we will not lower our standards. Employees are told from the start this is a union shop and they pay dues.

Tom Carey
We have only 1 agency worker in the Covid program. Nurse Manager to oversee student interns and free up Thom do his duties as Chief Nursing Officer.

Jim Nisivoccia
We go very far to work with the union to get the right membership. If doing bargaining unit work they should join the union. Firm commitment to continue.

Jeff Peck
Thom Amitrano is very good with this. Summer intern was able to come on as a permanent employee.

Tom Carey
The goal is to get them trained and retain them.

Jeff Peck
Employees are saying they want to stay but no jobs available.

Jim Nisivoccia
Will work with Sally Corbo to help employees get needed certifications and stay on.

Tom Carey
When we follow up we find a major roadblock is employees are not being flexible with the hours.

Jim Nisivoccia
We need to talk more about this and possible language in the CBA where we take care of transitional employees.

 

Item # 6    No Posting of The Schedule

 

Jeff Peck
Schedule was posted after our last meeting. Please have it posted in all units.

 

Item # 7   401k – Rebate -Tax issue

 

Jeff Peck
Members feel TIAA is not equivalent when it comes to dollars rebated that they put in the plan.

Roy Park
We need to do a better job of communicating. TIAA is a superior plan. Dramatically less cost to our employees. Need to do a better job educating members. It is half the cost to the member going to TIAA.

Carrie Dehls
TIAA is very transparent. Fee disclosures are mailed to the employee. We encourage the employees to read all of the documentation. It has always been there in the very back and they just didn’t see it. Now it is right in the front.

Happy to facilitate meetings with employees to help them understand the plan.

Sheila Schicker
Meetings with employees would be great. Save a lot of headaches and address employee concerns.

Jeff Peck
Our next union meeting is 5/28/2021 here in the auditorium. Having knowledge of how to look for and find data is very important. If someone could be there it would help. Met life sent a memo. TIAA does not.

Carrie Dehls
There is non discriminating testing for employees making over 130,000 dollars. Very small percentage.

Roy Park
Rebate has nothing to do with Met Life or TIAA. It is government regulated. Auditors come and perform audits to ensure the plans meets standards and to validate all can profit not just the highly compensated.

Again we need to do a better job of educating members and work with the union to encourage member participation.

Jeff Peck
Agreed. At the last union meeting members were sharing information that was causing more confusion.

Roy Park
Need to have employee outreach to educate.

Sheila Schicker
When ?

Jim Nisivoccia
The May 28th meeting and again in June. ( Carrie Dehls )

 

Item # 8   Staffing on Medical Detox , Acute Care 13to 1 Ratio

 

Joanne Velardi
I cannot find anywhere that this is happening. One night in February it was 1 to 10 and during the day 1 to 8 when increased evals were ordered for patients. ( every 2 hours ) Staffing in structured the same as med surge. 4 days we were over was isolated incident.

Jeff Peck
MDA coordinators are counted as part of the staffing and that may be showing the number to to different.

Joanne Velardi
Our staffing on 11-3 used to be 1 to 10. May have had a sick call that could not be covered, not sure. Most days we are way under. Any issues should be emailed to me so I can investigate. I am happy to have a discussion with the staff to resolve all issues.

Jeff Peck
I will meet with Joanne regularly to review.

Jim Nisivoccia
This has been a very productive meeting. We will send out a copy of the notes to all attendees.

Sheila Schicker
Appreciate all the communication

Margaret Merchant
Yes I agree we have had good communication.

Jeff Peck
We will get the information to the members.