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New Contract Ratified!

On October 2, 2008, Staff Nurses voted to ratify the new contract by an overwhelming margin.

A summary of contract changes is included in this newsletter. SNA's website snanews.com has the same information.

Your participation and activism during contract negotiations was especially valuable as we faced some difficult challenges. Your attendance at key negotiation sessions with the Hospital Team, responses to e-mails, attendance at SNA meetings and support of your colleagues and the SNA Team made all the difference. Once again, the SNA Team is proud to represent you. We appreciate and thank you for your support.

Contract Changes

OUT PT. SERVICES- Integration with PACU
Discussion concerning competencies, shared roles and role of one Lead Nurse without a patient care assignment.

FLOATING-
SNA/Hospital to create a plan to increase competencies of ARU Nurses to facilitate floating between ARU/Med-Surg.
"Closed" depts. do not float

DEPT. MEETINGS-
Monthly, hour long meetings (generally) adequate time for open discussion.

CES BENEFIT ACCRUAL-
Nurses working CES shifts which are also overtime will accrue sick leave & ETO for all CES shifts.

SNA TO RECEIVE COPIES OF DEPT. MATRICES & CORE STAFFING INFO-

ADDITIONAL RE-CERTIFICATIONS-
Like chemotherapy to be paid for the time to re-cert.

LAYOFF/RECALL-
If have written warning or greater related to a patient care safety issue- the Nurse would be ineligible for bumping & recall.

CLINICAL LADDER CHANGES-

Community Service- Must be within Sonoma, Lake or Mendocino Counties (remember- must be approved by Manager)

Cross Training- Credit to ED Nurses caring for CCD pts. held in ED under certain circumstances.

Dept. Activities- Now re-named "Special Projects" as before must be pre-approved by manager. Projects must have a beginning, end, measurable
objectives and a product that is a benefit to patient/families and/or dept./ hospital.

Committees- Manager approval required only if more than one Nurse member from dept.
Nurse receives credit for committee so long as committee is relevant to dept. or Nurse has particular expertise.
Time for attendance at committees is paid.

15 YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION-
Check equal to trip to Hawaii for 2. Value will be re-evaluated each year, currently worth $4500. (Remember, this is taxed at bonus rates)

RNFA-
20% Differential

RETIREMENT- Agreed with Hospital proposal (already implemented) for 10% contribution to 401(a) for Nurses with 29+ years of service.

RETIREE HEALTH-
$50/Mo. Added to current monthly benefit for Nurses retiring after Jan 1, 2009

ON CALL/CALL BACK- ½ time On Call pay, ¾ time Holiday OC pay, 1 ½ time call back pay with 3 hr. minimum guarantee pay.

FOR ON CALL AT END OF SHIFT- 1 1/2 time pay & 3hr minimum pay guarantee.

FOR EP/ASC NURSES REQUIRED TO STAY OVERTIME- 1 ½ time pay with 3hr Minimum pay guarantee, if OT > 30 minutes for incidental OT.

SAFE PATIENT HANDLING-
2 Transport/pt. handling assist. staff scheduled for 8 hr shifts M-F /max of 14hrs coverage/day and 1 staff scheduled for 8hr each Sa/Su with assurances about efforts to replace this staff for absences.

STAFFING-

Acuity Language
Float/Resource Nurses-
In addition to Nurses for ratio regulations, Lead Nurses where required, Break Nurses where necessary and in addition to PICC Nurse.

There will be:
1 Admit Nurse 12hrs M-F
2 Float Nurses 12 hrs M-F
1 Float Nurse 8hrs M-F
1 Float Nurse 12 hrs Sa/Su and 1 Float Nurse 12hrs. either Sa/Su

One of these 12 hr Float Nurses will be primarily assigned to CCD, ED, PACU and Progressive Care Unit (PCU) 6 days/wk.

HEALTH INSURANCE-

The Hospital has withdrawn its proposals for increased Health Care costs of any kind.

WAGES-

2.0% October 1, 2008
2.5% March 1, 2009	for a total of 9% over 2yr
2.0% October 1, 2009	Contract expiration 9/30/10
2.5% March 1, 2010

Implementation of new contract stipulation for additional Float Nurses-

The SNA Board is monitoring the progress of Hospital Administration toward fully implementing the contract language specifying Float Nurse hours. It is apparent that the Hospital will need to hire additional Float Nurses in order to fulfill the commitment in the new contract. Preference in hiring will be given to Nurses with Critical Care/Emergency Dept. experience in order to meet the requirement of one float Nurse primarily assigned to the group of CCD, ED, PACU and PCU depts.

We expect that positions will be posted soon after the contract ratification and positions filled expeditiously. The Federal Mediator who assisted the SNA and Hospital Teams during negotiations has indicated his commitment and assistance to ensure that the contract language is implemented.

Association Grievance Concerning Lead Nurses with Patient Assignments-

Arbitrators Decision-

SNA received the arbitrators decision in late September concerning SNA's grievance against the Hospital regarding staffing departments without a Lead Nurse in addition to the Nurses required to comply with Nurse to patient ratio regulations.

The Arbitrator has upheld the contract language.

**It is important for you to continue to document when Lead Nurses are required to take a patient assignment on your shift because staffing does not allow the Lead to be in addition to Lead Nurses required to comply with ratios.**

New AUP forms-

The SNA Board is in the process of revising the assignment under protest forms.

The new AUP forms will have a specific are for you to record when Lead Nurses have to take a patient care assignment. It will also ask whether the shift was scheduled to CORE staffing requirements.

New forms will be available later this autumn and will make sure they are delivered to you & will be updated and available on the SNA Website.

Nominations for SNA Officers 2009-

Please call the SNA message line 575-8853 if you would like to run for SNA office or would like to nominate o colleague.

The election for 2009 SNA officers will be held this Nov/Dec. A ballot will be mailed to your home.

 

Meeting Dates:

 

MEETING LOCATION

 

SNA MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Update-Ongoing Issues

Endoscopy

O

Cancelled Committee Meetings

SNA PROPOSALS -

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STAFF NURSES' ASSOCIATION
Message Line: 575-8853
Fax: 575-8138