“Big Deal” Achieves Victory on ER, Full-Time Schedules, PL and Grievances
After living through some of the toughest economic years on record, Jackson healthcare professionals are finally turning the corner and starting to regain ground.
Weeks of discussions and numerous membership meetings have produced a settlement agreement with Management that achieves victory on several pending class action grievances, stops the PL deduction and, most importantly, saves the jobs of our doctors and nurse practioners who work in all JHS ERs. The settlement also clears the path for us to begin applying savings made from the efficiencies we are finding toward reducing the 5 percent insurance contribution.
We have negotiated the following settlement from management, which will directly benefit your wages, job security – and patient care.
No more PL reductions. Management has agreed to stop any additional concessions being taken from employees beyond what has already been taken in PL. All PL deductions will stop Jan. 6. Any PL hours taken in excess of 1.54 will be restored retroactively to March 4, 2012. Our $15 million target in efficiencies has been reduced to $8 million. The savings we’ve earned in 2012 and 2013 will count in 2013, which means we have already reached our goal. Check your next paycheck and let us know if you don’t see the PL increase reflected there.
Fifty percent of additional efficiency dollars earned over the target can be applied toward reducing the 5% employee contribution in 2013 and 2014. Share your great ideas with the Efficiency Task Force and help us save money for Jackson and ourselves. Email us at union@seiu1991.org to find out how.
More full-time nurses. Part-time CSNs who work a 3-3, 12 ½-hour schedule for at least 9 of 12 weeks between January 6 and March 30, 2013, will be converted to full time 3-3 positions. They will be considered to have had no break in full time service for the purposes of benefit entitlements and seniority credit.
The 3-4 schedule will remain for all RNs who currently have that schedule.
Job security for ER physicians and ARNPs – Management agrees to cancel the current RFP (request for proposals) for JHS emergency services and guarantees that the Jackson Main Adult ER and the Rape Treatment Center will not be outsourced. If the Jackson Main Pedi ER or the Jackson South ER are later outsourced, all current regular full time and part time attending physicians and ARNPs who currently work in those locations are guaranteed to retain their positions as Jackson employees.
One education day will be restored in 2013 and again in 2014 for RN bargaining unit members. We get all three back on Oct. 1, 2014.
What did management get out of this deal?
The 4/3, 12 ½-hour shift will not be an option for new hires until October 2014.
No COLA or step increases in fiscal year 2012-2013. Bargaining for step increases and a COLA in fiscal year 2013-2014 will begin by June 2013.
The union agrees that it will withdraw pending grievances on layoff issues, withdraw the lawsuit regarding layoffs and that bargaining impasse for the 2013 reopener is resolved.
We have fought hard these past few years and given up a lot in the effort to keep Jackson viable in perhaps the toughest financial years in Jackson’s 90-plus-year history. From talking to hundreds of members, we believe that this deal is a step in the right direction toward our goal of making the hospital work for patients, employees and the larger community.
As we close out this chapter, we will continue to focus on the needs of our members and new victories.
Thank you for your hard work and support. We can’t do it without you!