On Monday, April 7, 2008, the New Jersey State Senate passed the Paid Family Leave legislation which establishes a family leave insurance fund that will be financed through worker payroll deductions similar to that of deductions for unemployment.  This legislation will enable workers to take the time needed to attend to their familial obligations while providing financial relief in doing so. 

This legislation is still pending Governor Corzine's signature before it takes effect.  NJNU will provide more details on this breakthrough legislation as it develops.   

On December 14, 2007, Sari Kaplon, (VP, Patient Care Services) distributed a memo to our members announcing a change in policy as a result of the high rates of call outs during the winter holiday season.  According to the memo, any member calling out during this time will be marked absent until a final decison is rendered by the member's nurse manager.  NJNU responded immediately by filing a class action grievance as well as an unfair labor practice charge against the hospital. We maintain the belief that management already has a clear and established policy to address those that they feel have abused the call out policy.  Furthermore, management does not have the ability to mark a member absent that has called in their personal day or has decided to cancel their extra shift. 

NJNU is in receipt of the letter from Ron Del Mauro concerning the status of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System benefits program.  It seems unfortunate that SBHCS has decided to drastically alter the terms of their benefits program in an effort to recoup their losses over the years.  This change is even more upsetting because they chose to do so at the expense of their loyal and dedicated employees as opposed to changing the extremely expensive compensation packages of their top level executives.

It makes you wonder, if they were really trying to pinch pennies, why wouldn't they cut out the golden parachutes that their executives continue to enjoy?  NJNU members have been very understanding as to the plight of the SBHCS future, however enough is enough. 

Please be advised that NJNU is aware of the situation and is in the process of addressing this issue as expeditiously as possible. 

On Friday, June 29, 2007, members of NJNU and HPAE attended a special screening of the Michael Moore film, "SickO".  The film examines the state of the healthcare industry while trying to answer the question of,"How did we get here?"

An estimated 46 million Americans have no health insurance at all.  Even more disturbing is the fact that employers continue to drop healthcare coverage for their workers at an alarming rate.  The average healthcare premium for family coverage has escalated 67% between 2000 and 2005 despite the fact that wages for working families has basically remained stagnant.

As pointed out in the film, we all have a stake in finding a solution to the healthcare crisis in America, regardless of our political beliefs.  If you would like more information on what you can do to help make a change in the healthcare industry, click here.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be a RN, willing to devote 1 or 2 days a month for group
discussions.  Creativity, motivation and enthusiasm a plus!