July 2025 Communications
Closing the Loop from June
- Nurses Week Gifts
- Final shipment delivered
- LEB will be posting what units we are dropping off to, with specific RN names
- Final shipment delivered
RN Safety and Violence Updates
- Making our voices heard though conversations between HPAE and CUHC
- PICU/PEDS nurses came to Labor Management with Kathy Devine present
- Topics being brought up:
- CDU originally designed to be observation, has become dumping ground as ED is overflowing
- Behavioral patients being placed in inappropriate locations/assignments
- Increase in ADO forms being filled out for inappropriate assignments
- BRRT process: psych team not entering room to assess patient, forcing nurses to deescalate the patient instead
- HPAE requesting for Cooper to look more into BRRT process and more transparent communication between psych and nursing staff
- Need for 1:1s qualified in assisting with mental health needs
- CUHC is working on hiring more mental health techs
- CUHC working on staggering tech shifts for more complex patients
- Ongoing violence across all areas
- Petition
- More to come on the next steps
- Please continue to support your fellow nurses and sign this petition when you see it!
Staffing Updates
- Canceling Shifts
- Have seen a decrease in wrongful cancelation as of late
- If you feel like you were cancelled incorrectly, reach out
Positives
- Grievances won:
- PEDs incorrect mandation (2 cases)
- PICU incorrect mandation (2 cases)
- PEDS reassignment guidelines
- Multiple step 1 and 2 grievances pending
General July Updates
- Upcoming Walk Throughs
- August 21st, 2025
- November 20th, 2025
- We will cover multiple areas on these days
- General Membership
- October 8th, 2025
- Aflac
- Rates are discounted for all HPAE members!
- Open enrollment runs from August 1st through September 15th
- To stay up to date on enrollment windows and plan updates, please feel free to utilize the following resources:
- Add your contact information to stay up to date on enrollment windows and plan updates
- Google form: https://forms.gle/qL8axF2LkH9Xuo2K9
- Learn more about your Aflac Benefit options, including plan details and rates
- A video explaining how members can register on the enrollment site to review plan pricing
- Registration Page: https://ss-prod.ieswebservices.com/Default.aspx?CId=rq5q6i50XyKdLeCOronJVw==
- Add your contact information to stay up to date on enrollment windows and plan updates
- Need to request a union representative?
- If you were asked to come into the office by management, always ask “will this meeting lead to a discipline?” If the answer is yes, then ask for a rep to be present.
- The updated rep list can be found in the blue union binder on the units, as well as on the HPAE.org website.
- Interested in becoming a union representative?
- Please reach out to any LEB member or active representative if you would like to be included in our next training.
- New representative training: October 22nd, 2025
- Grievance Process
- Please keep in mind, we have 10 business days to file a grievance!
July 2025 Communications
Standing Strong Together – Updates, Wins, and What’s Ahead
Closing the Loop from June
We’re providing more updates on our Nurses Week gifts. The final shipment has been delivered to us. We will continue to utilize Facebook to share which unit is being delivered, along with the names of the nurses included in that delivery. Thank you for your patience and dedication as we continue to work on this important recognition.
RN Safety and Violence
On the topic of safety and violence in the workplace, we continue to push for meaningful change, supported by ongoing conversations between HPAE and CUHC. All updates regarding these efforts will continue to be given to our members as we receive them.
During a recent Labor Management meeting, nurses from PICU and PEDS raised several concerns directly to Cooper leadership, including Kathy Devine. This allowed Cooper to see how frustrated the nursing staff is with the current state of violence against the nurses. During this meeting, we brought forth many examples of violence and are working closely with Cooper to seek out solutions.
With that being said, we are continuing to bring important topics to Cooper’s attention with these conversations. These issues include the dumping of patients in CDU due to ED overflow, placing behavioral patients in inappropriate settings, and sharing ongoing frustrations with the BRRT process. Specifically, the concern is that psychiatric teams are not entering rooms to assess patients, leaving nurses solely responsible for de-escalation. Regarding BRRTs, HPAE has requested that Cooper Health examine the BRRT process more closely and foster better communication between psychiatric teams and nursing staff.
Additionally, there is a growing need for 1:1 staff members who are trained to assist patients with mental health needs. Per recent communication, CUHC is working on hiring more mental health technicians and is planning on offering staggered shifts for covering 1:1s with complex patients. Despite these steps forward, violence continues to be a pressing issue, throughout all areas, especially in the Emergency Department, Kelemen Building, and Pavilion. A petition is circulating to bring further attention to this problem. We encourage everyone to support your fellow nurses and sign when you see it.
Staffing Updates
On the staffing front, we’re seeing a decrease in wrongful shift cancellations. While this is encouraging, we want to remind everyone that if you believe your shift was canceled or mandated improperly, please reach out to your union representative.
Grievances
We’re pleased to report several significant grievance victories this month. Two grievances regarding incorrect mandation in both PEDS and PICU have been won. Additionally, we’ve made progress on clarifying PEDS reassignment guidelines for the CODS and CUHC management. Several Step 1 and Step 2 grievances are still pending, and we remain committed to advocating for fair practices across all units.
General July Reminders
Looking ahead, our next union walkthroughs are scheduled for August 21st and November 20th, 2025. We will be covering multiple units on each of these dates, so please stay alert for more details in the coming weeks. Our next general membership meeting will also be taking place on October 8th, 2025.
Open enrollment for Aflac begins on August 1st and runs through September 15th. All HPAE members are eligible for discounted rates. To stay informed about enrollment windows, plan updates, and benefit options, you can update your contact information through Aflac’s online form, view plan details and rates, watch a step-by-step registration video, or register directly on the Aflac portal. All these resources are easily accessible online, and we encourage everyone to take full advantage of the benefits available to you.
If you are ever asked to attend a meeting with management, remember to ask, “Will this meeting lead to discipline?” If the answer is yes, you have the right to request a union representative. The most up-to-date list of union reps is available in the blue binder on each unit and on the HPAE website.
With regards to reps, for those interested in becoming a union representative, we invite you to attend our upcoming training session on October 22nd, 2025. If you’d like to join, please speak with an LEB member or any active rep—we’re always looking for committed members to help support fellow nurses.
Lastly, we want to remind everyone that grievances must be filed within 10 business days of the incident. If you have a concern, don’t wait—reach out to your rep and take the first step toward resolution.
Thank you for continuing to stand strong for each other, for your patients, and for the profession. Your courage, compassion, and resilience are what make this union strong.
In Solidarity,
Your LEB