Bargaining intensified yesterday (1/18), it was standing room only as our members packed DTC.
Dozens of your colleagues from the following job classes, CSN’s, Apheresis, Nurse Educators, APRNs, Music Therapists, Dietitians, Infection Prevention & Control, and Pharmacists, all gave presentations on the high-skilled work we all do. They focused on the staffing crisis we face and the salary inequities causing serious vacancies in their units. These well-researched, stellar presentations all drew standing ovations. Like evidence based medicine, each of these presentations underscored the safe staffing and salary challenges many of us experience. Your leadership and bargaining team once again highlighted the recruitment and retention dilemma at Jackson.
The bargaining team also proposed additional language to our safe staffing article in the collective bargaining agreement. The proposed new language improves patient staffing ratios. It will also mandate additional compensation when nurses are regretfully given patient assignments above the safe staffing ratios.
A couple of articles were proposed by management, including a proposal that would increase health insurance costs for Select and POS by 5%. Management did not indicate any increase in costs for Jackson First. Your bargaining team indicated their initial dissatisfaction with this and is working on a response.
The parties agreed to February 1, 2023 as the next bargaining date.
We thank all of our members who attended this bargaining session in person or joined by zoom. Your presence is powerful!