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SNA Negotiations Team

Sue Gadbois	Stacy Lewis
Cathleen Lukrich	Michael Broussard
Kery Poteracke	Charlotte Schatz

Hospital Negotiations Team

Debra Miller, Director Human Resources

Kathy Hardin, Chief Nursing Officer

Kristy Gaub, Director ED and Trauma

Sheri Williams, Manager Medical Telemetry

Ken Jones, Director of Med-Surg

Rick Albert, Hospital Labor Attorney

Brigid Donnelly, HR Observer

Negotiations Meetings—
SNA and Hospital Teams

*******You are welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings as silent gallery members. Not only is it interesting—it makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the impact that your SNA Team is able to make on the hospital.*******

Meeting Dates:

*Note: Times may be subject to change*

7/28	10 am
7/29	10 am
8/20	10 am
8/21	10 am
8/27	12 noon
8/28	12noon
9/3	11 am
9/9	10 am
9/10	10 am
9/17	12 noon
9/18	12 noon
9/22	*Probably with Federal Mediator
9/23	*Probably with Federal Mediator
9/25	*Probably with Federal Mediator
9/29	*Probably with Federal Mediator
9/30	*Probably with Federal Mediator

MEETING LOCATION

The Lakes Corporate Center
2227 Capricorn Way, Santa Rosa

(Hwy 12 to Stony Pt. Rd., exit south, right on Sebastopol Rd., left on Corporate Ctr. Parkway, left on Challenger, left on Capricorn. Building on left, follow signs)

Notices will be posted for these and future meetings:

• In your department
• SNA Message Line: 575-8853
• SNA Website: snanews.com

  SNA MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

  Friday August 15th & Friday August 29th	1pm & 4pm
  Every Friday in September	1pm & 4pm

  All meetings will be held at:

  First United Methodist Church
  1551 Montgomery Drive
  (roughly two blocks east of the hospital)

  *******The most important contribution you can make to the SNA Team's success in contract negotiations is to attend SNA Membership Meetings and then Negotiation Meetings with the Hospital Team.********

  WE HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE AT TIMES AND NEED YOUR FEEDBACK!!!

  As always, SNA proposals are formulated on the basis of information gleaned from SNA Member Negotiatoiin Surveys, market research and issues tracked over the term of the current contract.

  WE WILL UPDATE THE OUTGOING MESSAGE AFTER EACH NEGOTIATION MEETING WITH THE HOSPITAL TEAM AS NEEDED.

  PLEASE STAY INFORMED ON THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING ON THE ISSUES.

  THE SNA WEBSITE WILL ALSO BE UPDATED FREQUENTLY.
  

Update-Ongoing Issues

ICN—

Coverage for Breaks and attendance at deliveries. Members of the SNA Board continue to assist Staff Nurses in ICN with the issue of maintaining Nurse/Pt. ratios at all times and ensuring safe care in ICN.

ICN Nurses have done an excellent job of researching both Department of Health and CCS requirements regarding ICN staffing as well as documenting when breaks and attendance at deliveries means that ratios may not be maintained because Nurses have left the department.

So far, resolutions to these issues proposed by members of administration have failed to adequately address the various situations for staffing the ICN.

We are hopeful that the new Manager for ICN, Cordelia Jewell will have some particular perspective and expertise to resolve those issues.

ED Ratios & Lead Nurse with Pt.Assignment

ED Staff Nurses Continue to document the shifts when Nurse/Pt. ratios are not maintained and/or the Lead Nurse is required to take patient assignments.

These circumstances are often caused by Critical Care and Med-Surg beds availability.

In addition, the ED has been short staffed. According to ED managers, the short staffing is the result of many unexpected leaves of absence and sick calls.

Endoscopy

The Endoscopy department is incorporating the use of techs in Endoscopy procedures for the first time at SRMH. Members of the SNA Board have assisted the Staff Nurses in Endo with their concerns about the role and job description for techs in endoscopy procedures.

Endo Nurses have done a great job of articulating questions and researching the issues with the BRN. They are aware of their licensure mandate as patient advocates. Their concerns for safe patient care have motivated them to ask the appropriate questions and to ensure that the scope of practice for techs at SRMH is based on regulations and efficient practice.

As a result, the proposed job description and competency check list developed by the Hospital were changed to be consistent with regulations for unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) with respect to injection and cutting tissue.

Overtime
Sue Gadbois, President of SNA, has articulated SNA's position regarding Nurse's need for overtime and the most recent tactics used by Managers against Nurses using OT. The letter, addressed to Debra Miller VP Human Resources, can be viewed on SNA's website.

The letter was dated and delivered June17, 2008. As of July 28, 2008 we have yet to receive a reply.

Cancelled Committee Meetings

Nurses who are members of committees continue to receive credit toward the committee criteria for Clinical Ladder when a committee meeting is cancelled. Nurses must attend 75% of committee meetings/year in order to qualify. If a meeting is cancelled for budgetary or other reasons, then the Nurse must attend 75% of the meetings that are held.

If a committee is disbanded and will no longer meet at all, then the Nurse must join another committee and meet the attendance requirements to satisfy the committee criteria.

This understanding was verified with Kathy Hardin CNO.

SNA PROPOSALS - Click here for Updates

SNA PROPOSALS		HOSPITAL REPONSE
EDITORAL:
1)	Relief Availability—Can include "on call" but not in addition to minimum availability (already agreed.)	7/29 agreed
2)	Clinical Ladder—Add mentoring to performance criteria (already agreed)	7/29 agreed
3)	Compensation -Extra Shifts—10/12 hour extra shifts worked in excess of 40hrs/week paid at double-time (already agreed).	7/29 counter
4)	Long Term Disability—"Buy up" to include $8000/mo max. (already agreed).	7/29 agreed
5)	Title in Art. VI Categories—To included Casual	7/29 agreed
6)	Edit list of depts. in Art. XII—Reduction in Force when dept is closed
7)	Footnote 2—Edit department list
8)	Art. VII—Correct to include 8 salary steps.
9)	Promotion to Staff Nurse III/IV— Edit # of salary steps.	7/29 agreed
10)	App. D—Employee dates changed reference to Fulton/Sotoyme to ARU.	7/29 agreed
11)	Art. XVI Patient Advocacy—Delete reference to ratios -SOU.	7/29 agreed
12)	ACLS Tuition reimbursement—Change reference from SRJC to $145.
PROCEDURAL
13)	Shift re-assignment—Process to be discussed between SNA/Hospital; not PRNC and Hospital.	7/29 agreed
14)	PRNC—Delete staffing report requirement.	7/29 agreed
15)	Change reference to Hazardous Substance Committee—To Injury and Illness Prevention Program with SBA Board Member as committee member.	7/29 agreed
16)	Floating—Change reference to Fulton/ Sotoyme to ARU and specified that closed departments do not float.
SUBSTANTIVE
17)	Chemo, IABP, CRRT, and Third trimester Ultrasound certifications— to be recognized for time paid as is ACLS, PALS AND NALS.
18)	Dept Meetings—Nurses to be paid for 1.5 hours dept. meetings which must include 0.5 hour discussion.	7/29 counter- Amt. Of time for mtg. Not specified, but effort made to provide adequate time for open discussion
19)	Weekend Differential—$2.50/hr for weekend hours worked after 5pm Friday until 7:30AM Monday (on call/call back does not count)
20)	Safe Pt Handling/Work Environment—New Article Specifies: Education re: patient handling, available and appropriate equipment for patient mobility/transport and trained staff dedicated to assist Nurses with patient handling, mobility and transport available on all shifts. Also requires consultation with Nurses/SNA prior to making significant changes in work environment if changes pose risk to health/safety of Nurses.
21)	Retiree Medical—Increase current monthly amounts by $100.
22)	Retirement Plan— a) Increase 401(a) at each level by 2% b) Increase amount matched by hosptial for 401(K) from 2% to 4%)
23)	Staffing-Acuity—Staffing for each shift in each department using GRASP shall reflect the effect of patient acuity as determined by GRASP.
24)	Staffing—Float/Resource Nurse for CCD and ED and North/West wing and East/Center East wing (4 total) for all shifts, entire shift.
25)	Wages— 7% 10/1/08 8% 10/1/09
	HOSPTIAL PROPOSALS	SNA RESPONSE
A-4	Recognition for 15 yrs of service ck for $4500 rather than travel voucher equal to trip to Hawaii + $500 cash (both are subject to taxes).
A-5	Deletion of special merit increases
A-7	On-Call—$15/hr on-call rate (current 1/2 time pay) *MAJOR LOSS*
A-8	Call-Back —1 1/2x pay + 1/2 pay *MAJOR LOSS*
A-9	OB, OR, ED, Angio, PACU & Endo to receive OT pay only for on-call after shift. (currently receive OT + on-call pay when on-call after end of shift & can't leave at end of shift)
A-10	EP lab, ASC to receive OT pay only for OT hrs worked past 1/2 hr. (currently receive OT + on-call for OT after shift) *this was a way to deal with mandatory OT*
A-11	RNFA differential $9/hr. (currently 50%diff) * MAJOR LOSS*
B-1	Compassionate Leave-restricts definition of loved one. Hospital will not "unreasonably deny" time off for Nurse, for loved one not in definition-can use ETO. * MAJOR LOSS*
B-3	RX drug increased co-pays Brand $15 to $25 Non-formulary $30 to 40% (max $60)
B-5	Health Ins. monthly premiums contributions: FT-3% to 0% employee only, but 10% for dependants. RPT-4-8% TO 5% employee only, but 15% for dependants. RPT-3-remains 11% employee only, but 20% for dependants RPT-2-remains 18% for employee, but 25% for dependants. *MAJOR INCREASE IN EXPENSE TO NURSE*
B-6	Increase in co-pays SRMH ED-$50 to $100 Other ED's - $100 to $125 SJHS Urgent Care - $15 to $50
B-7	Retirement Plan-Increase contribution to 401(a) of 10% after 29 yrs of service
C	Retiree Medical-System to develop new plan (without SNA input) & will offer to SNA members.
D	Layoff/recall-Not eligible for "bumping to avoid layoff or recall If have active discipline in place.
E	Clinical Ladder- Community Service-defines area of service to primary & secondary areas. (already agreed in guidelines)

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Message Line: 575-8853
Fax: 575-8138

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© Staff Nurse's Association 2008