HPAE Local 5131 at Inspira Medical Centers (Elmer, Vineland, Bridgeton, & C/S)
Membership Meetings Focus on Upcoming Negotiations
October 16, 2015
At general membership meetings yesterday, we discussed the upcoming negotiations with Inspira next spring. In particular, we talked about how we will be doing joint bargaining with our sister local Inspira Woodbury (Local 5621), and why members need to get involved so that we can achieve a strong contract.
Membership Meetings – October 15
October 6, 2015
It’s time to start getting ready for our next negotiations with Inspira. Our contract expires May 31, 2016 and we need to discuss issues are important to us in bargaining a new contract. Staffing, on-call, reassignment, cancellatino, wages, and benefits are some of the topics we know are important to Inspira nurses.
Come to one of our general membership meetings before or after your shift and let us know what you think. We need your input. An informed and active membership is essential if we’re going to achieve a good contract.
At the meetings, we will also:
Come join us!
PTO Update
August 7, 2015
Your Local won a major arbitration in May. Specifically, Inspira was found to have violated the terms of our contract when they increased the PTO rates for non-Union employees without raising them for our members. As a result, Inspira was ordered to give that increase to all PTO eligible Union employees retroactive to April 10, 2014 and going forward.
Inspira implemented the increase in July and our members should have seen two changes; an increase in the accrual rate and an increase in the PTO balance.
Now we need your help to make sure it has been done correctly and that every eligible member has gotten what they are entitled to. Please check your paystubs to ensure you have received your lump sum increase. The highest amount owed was 18.90 hours. The amount depends on your FT or PT status and years as an employee. If you have any questions, please contact a Union officer for verification.
Please check this accrual table to make sure your rate is correct.
Your officers and Unit reps are working constantly to make sure your rights are protected under our contract. Do your part by knowing your contract and alerting us to any violation.
Local 5131 Wins Arbitration Regarding PTO Rates, Our Members Will Receive a Total of $2 Million in Additional PTO Accruals
May 12, 2015
Local 5131 has just won a major arbitration victory. Yesterday, Arbitrator Lawrence Coburn ruled that Inspira violated the contract when it failed to increase the PTO accrual rates for Local 5131 members as Inspira had done for non-union employees. Section 40.3 of the contract requires that “Any increase in PTO and/or LTS accrual rates of non-bargaining unit, non-managerial employees will be applied to bargaining unit employees.”
In early 2014, the employer raised the PTO accrual rates for non-union employees while taking away their long term sick (LTS) benefits. Local 5131 rejected Inspira’s proposal that we agree to the same deal; instead, we insisted, based on the contract language, that the increase in PTO accrual rates be applied to Local 5131 members as well.
The arbitrator is requiring Inspira to “…increase, retroactive to April 10, 2014, PTO accrual rates for bargaining unit employees to the PTO accrual rates applicable to non-bargaining unit employees”. This means that Local 5131 members will be receiving, according to Inspira’s estimate, $2 million in additional PTO benefit accruals!
Local 5131 President Michelle Silvio noted the importance of the the arbitrator’s decision for the local: “This is a major victory for our members. At a time when our hospital system is looking at every way to cut costs, employees often pay the biggest price for those cuts. The only way to protect our rights and benefits is to have a union contract. This win shows the power we have when we stand together.”
Local 5131 Celebrates Nurses’ Day with an Education Dinner
May 7, 2015
Yesterday, Local 5131 members celebrated Nurses’ Day with a dinner and education workshop on “Social Media and the Health Care Team”. The education dinner was held from 6 to 8 pm at the Eastlyn Golf Club. The speaker was Kathy Gialanella, an RN and attorney who specializes in representing nurses at the Board of Nursing and in court.
More photos from the Education Dinner:
Welcome New Union Reps!
March 27, 2015
At our Rep meeting yesterday, seven members came forward to be new Local 5131 Union Reps. They are: Karen Johnson- Elmer SDU, Julie Zeigler- Elmer ED, Dana Barrett- Vineland Nursery, Pat Gandy- Vineland Nursery, Catherine Vasquez- Vineland M/B, Gladys Colon- Vineland NICU, and Susan Fatula- Vineland SDS. Thank you all for your involvement and participation in our union.
Below: New Union Reps (Karen Johnson not in the photo):
Local 5131 Joins with Other HPAE Locals in Lobby Day
March 16, 2015
Lobby Day was a great success. Over 300 members of HPAE and other healthcare unions in the Coalition for Patients Rights and Safe Staffing (CPRSS) came to Trenton to talk to state legislators about the need for staffing legislation, including nurse to patient staffing ratios, which ensure quality care and patient safety.
HPAE members throughout the state of New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania were enthusiastic and excited to participate in Lobby Day. During the day, we held 23 meetings with state legislators, many of whom pledged their full support for a safe staffing bill.
Local 5131 members in front of the bus that took us to Trenton….
On the bus to Trenton….
In front of the State Capitol building, after meeting with state legislators:
Local 5131 members Beth Manganaro, Joanne Savidge and Glady Colon (L-R)
Karen Sweeten, Caroline Rump Sands, Karen Johnson (L-R)
Check out HPAE’s Facebook page for more photos of Lobby Day
Membership Meetings Set for February 19
January 26, 2015
We’re holding membership meeting on February 19 at the Fairfield Inn (note: it’s a new location) in Millville, NJ. The times of the meetings are 8 am, 4 pm, and 7:30 pm.
At the meetings, we’ll be discussing what’s happening with our local union and the state HPAE, including the fight for state staffing ratios, grievances/arbitrations, and the Woodbury negotiations.
Please make every to attend. Click here for directions to the Fairfield Inn
Inspira RNs Vote in Favor of the Retiree Medical Trust
November 20, 2014
In a mail ballot election conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), full-time, part-time and Baylor RNs of Local 5131 voted by a margin of 2 to 1 to participate in the Retiree Medical Trust. Our members need every advantage to help with medical expenses when they retire and this is a way to save money now, tax free, to be used later. Unfortunately, this benefit is not open to per diem or CRT nurses, per IRS rules.
This is just the first step in our goal to ensure that Local 5131 members have financial support in dealing with healthcare costs after they leave Inspira or retire. In our negotiations in 2016, we will be proposing that Inspira contribute money on behalf of nurses so that we can make this benefit even better.
Read More About the Vote and How the Retiree Medical Trust Will Benefit Us
Click here for a Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”) about the Retiree Medical Trust to learn the basics of the plan.
Message from the President: Our Vote on the HPAE Retiree Medical Trust
September 18, 2014
In our last negotiations, we fought for the right to offer our members the opportunity to participate in the HPAE Retiree Medical Trust. This November, all FT and PT members, including Baylors, will be voting to decide for yourselves if you want to take advantage of this benefit.
Click here for a Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”) to learn the basics of the plan. I urge you to come to the special meetings we will be conducting on October 7 and 28 to give you in-depth information and answer any questions you may have.
As your local officers, we think this is a worthwhile benefit for our members, which is why we fought for it in negotiations. It will be up to you to decide if you feel the same, but you need information to make that decision.
Michelle Silvio
Local 5131 President
Local 5131 Membership Meetings
August 15, 2014
At general membership meetings yesterday at the Wingate Hotel, we discussed several important issues facing our local. One problem is that many nurses are not taking their lunch break and not reporting that they've worked through the break. Local 5131 VP Beth Manganaro (photo on left) emphasized just how much money we lose when we don't report that we've worked through a meal break.
Another focus of the meeting was the upcoming HPAE convention in October. The Local Executive Board members strongly encouraged members to attend, as this will be a convention marking the 40th anniversary of HPAE.
Finally, Local 5131 President Michelle Silvio provided the members with an explanation of HPAE's Retiree Medical Trust. In November, full time and part time RNs will be voting whether to participate in the Retiree Medical Trust. Currently, over 3500 HPAE members in eight locals participate.
Photo below: Local officers with members.
Local 5131 Participates in Lobby Day
April 2, 2014
Local 5131 joined with other HPAE locals, members of other nursing unions, and advocacy groups in HPAE's Lobby Day in Trenton on March 29. We went to Trenton to tell our state legislators and the Department of Health to put "Patients First" and support staffing ratios and stronger oversight of hospitals.
Video: Local 5131 President Michelle Silvio speaking about the importance of staffing at Lobby Day
For more information, as well as photos and videos of Lobby Day events, click here and go to HPAE's Facebook page.