NJNU is currently in negotiations with Kimball Medical Center/Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center as the current agreement is due to expire on April 30, 2007 at midnight. Please check the website for the most up to date information concerning the status of the bargaining sessions. Should you require additional information or would like to make a comment please click here.
NJNU and KMC/SBBH met for another bargaining session on April 10, 2007 and April 11, 2007. The following issues were discussed:
Staffing
Non-Nursing Duties
Work Assignments
On-Call
FMLA
PTO
NJNU will continue to meet with KMC/SBBH in an attempt to work towards a solution to these issues. Should you require additional assistance, please feel free to contact your local delegate.
NJNU has met with KMC/SBBH on both April 3, 2007 and April 4, 2007 for another bargaining session. The following issues were discussed:
Staffing:§ NJNU has requested a real staffing committee be implemented which would focus primarily on the staffing issues that plague our facility. This committee would help management develop a real acuity system as well as address the issue of recruitment and retention of staff. We have also requested that they increase their staff by hiring more nurses into their float pool and hiring per diems for all shifts.
§ Management’s response to our request is the Nurse Practice Council, despite the fact that they have no idea who is on the Council or what they have implemented since their inception other than the Rapid Admit Team. This issue is still pending.
Work Assignments:
§ NJNU has requested to modify the pull divisions so that nurses would be able to function on those units that are within their level of competencies. We have also suggested that they implement a Critical Care and Maternal Child Float Pool to lessen the burden for our members.
§ Management has responded that they would be willing to provide our members in the Med/Surg units with telemetry certification. However, they are not willing to commit to not pulling nurses outside of their level of competency. This issue is still pending.
On-Call
§ NJNU has proposed language that would clarify exactly when a nurse should be considered “called in”. We have also requested that management explain their on-call compensation policy as well as the reasons for the discrepancies amongst the various units.
§ Management seems somewhat confused as to what is their policy concerning on-call. They did not offer an explanation for the discrepancy amongst the units. They have conceded the fact that they have just recently changed their policy but did not offer an explanation as to why. This issue is still pending.
The next bargaining date is scheduled for Tuesday, April 10, 2007.
NJNU met with KMC/SBBH for another bargaining session. Management responded to the Union's proposals as well as presented their demands to the NJNU Bargaining Committee. NJNU has requested the following changes be made to the collective bargaining agreement:
Hours § Address the issue of breaks and lunches§ On-call issues addressed as well as shift differentials for those that are called into work. | Work Assignments § Would like to modify the pull divisions, as well as implement a pull policy. § Would like to set up a float pool for Critical Care divisions and Maternal Child divisions. |
FMLA § Need to ensure that all members are protected under the FMLA, where applicable. | Holidays § Would like to establish a policy that addresses how members will be granted their holidays off. |
Shifts & Differentials § Address the terms under which members can have their shifts rotated. § Would like for every member to receive a weekend differential for all hours worked. | Staffing § NJNU would like to have a joint labor/management committee to address the many staffing issues that currently plague our facilities. |
Continuing Education § Would like to implement a program that would assist our members in maintaining the 30 c.e.u.’s that are required by the NJ Board of Nursing. | Education Programs § Would like to have educational sessions for those members that work on the night shifts. Members should not have to be in-serviced on their own time. |
Recognition § Want to protect those nurses that function as a charge nurse. | Bulletin Boards § Need to have a union bulletin board on every unit for our members. |
Economics § We have not discussed economics to date. However, NJNU would like to have increases to a few of the differentials as well as the base wage. | Miscellaneous § Would like to ensure that our members are not forced to do non-nursing duties. § Would also like to be able to meet with the new hires for 30 minutes during their orientation. |
NJNU met today with KMC/SBBH management for the first day of contract negotiations. NJNU presented our proposal. Each member of the bargaining committee made a presentation regarding the major issues, such as staffing, security/safety, on call, and work assignments.
The hospital had certain questions which the bargaining unit answered. The hospital stated that it will give their proposal to NJNU at the 4/2 session.
However, during the negotiation session the bargaining committee raised the concern that the hospital has not granted the bargaining committee the union leave that it had requested several times over past 3 months. The hospital stated that would not give us the leave that is guaranteed to us in the contract and therefore is in clear violation of the collective bargaining agreement. Therefore at the end of the negotiation session NJNU filed a class action grievance and will file an ULP charge as well.
Please be advised that the hospital’s refusal to grant leave may result in a delay in further negotiation sessions. It is unfortunate that at the first day of bargaining, management has interfered with our ability to negotiate on your behalf.