Local 5118 Union and Hospital Joint Committees

In our Union contract we have negotiated language that mandates that the Union and the hospital create specific joint committees. Both parties have input into what the committee is going to focus on. Our Voices are heard!

Below is a description of each committee, the number of committee members permitted and how often each committee meets.

We are paid to be on a committee and Professional Ladder points are given.

Joint Health and Safety Committee

• HPAE 4 RNs Hospital 4 Representatives
• Meets quarterly
• Compensation. If you are not scheduled to work the day of the meeting, you will be paid your hourly rate to attend the meeting.
• Professional Ladder points are available.

Objective. Maintain a safe and healthy workplace free of hazards and conform to OSHA and Health and Safety Laws.

Walk through inspections: To be done with designated hospital person to improve the safety in the workplace. The committee will meet to discuss any findings and develop an action plan.

Staffing Committee

• HPAE 5 RNs Hospital 5 Representatives
• Meets every other month
• Compensation. You are paid to attend the meetings if you are scheduled to work the day of the meeting or if you are off.

Objective. Safe staffing.

Committee members:

• Make recommendations on nursing and ancillary staff and skill mixes on units.
• Discuss the implementation of an acuity system.
• Review patient satisfaction and hospital functioning.
• Review floating and assignment guidelines.
• Review unit issues that interfere with quality patient care.
• Review staff orientation programs and recommend changes. Also review the preceptor program. Review and discuss recruitment and retention programs, exit interview aggregate data, agency use and RN overtime use.

Safe Patient Handling Committee

• HPAE 6RNs Hospital 6 Representatives
• Meets quarterly. Third Wednesday of the month.
• Compensation. You will be paid to attend the meetings.
• Professional Ladder points are available.

Objective. This committee ensures the safety of the nurse by making sure that we have the proper lifting equipment needed to care for the patient. It ensures that CUH adheres to the law and state requirements.

Violence Prevention Committee

• HPAE 6RNs Hospital 6 Representatives
• Meets quarterly. 2022 August 4th & October 27th
• Compensation. You will be paid to attend the meetings.
• Professional Ladder points are available.

Objective. This committee tracks the violent events in the hospital by unit, day of the week and time. It documents visitor violence. The group also makes sure that there is training to better handle the violent patient and looks at the safety of the hospital and the campus.

Blood Borne Pathogen Committee

• HPAE 6RNs Hospital 6 Representatives
• Meets quarterly. 2022 September 21st & December 21st
• Compensation. You will be paid to attend the meetings.
• Professional Ladder points are available.

Objective. The committee meets to track employee injuries – needle sticks, fluid splashes, etc. They also review new products for clinical use such as safety needles. They review any reports of injury reported by staff and develop an action plan.

If you are interested in being on one of the committees, please contact Doris Bell, President at
dbell-hpae@comcast.net