The NJNU Bargaining Committee successfully negotiated a collective bargaining agreement that addresses our members’ critical concerns – staffing, wages, and job security.  The highlights are as follows:

1.  Duration:  May 1, 2007 through April 30, 2009.

2.  Union Bulletin Boards:  The Employer has agreed to provide the Union with unlocked bulletin boards on most of the units throughout the Medical Center.

• Employees on-call, that have no case scheduled at the end of their shift, and are called in shall be compensated at time and one half for the time actually worked, regardless of the number of hours worked during the pay period, and shall be guaranteed a minimum of two (2) hours at a time and a half in addition to on-call pay.
• Employees on-call, that are assigned an add-on case prior to the end of their shift, shall be compensated at time and one half for the time actually worked, regardless of the number of hours worked during the pay period, in addition to on-call pay.
• Employees on-call between the hours of 3:30 pm and 7:30 am, or as those hours may be changed, shall receive a shift differential for the time actually worked, regardless of the number of hours worked.

4.  Staffing:  There will be a joint management/labor committee which would have the primary responsibility to address staffing issues such as, acuity, staffing levels, and other trends in healthcare.  The committee will meet on a monthly basis.

5.  FMLA:  Management has agreed to distribute as well as post on each unit, a memo educating all bargaining unit members on FMLA.  The Union participated in drafting the memo in order to fully explain to all employees what their rights are and how to take their leaves.

6.  Job Postings:  The Union will be provided copies of job postings every month.

7.  Breaks and Lunches:  In the event that the issue of breaks and lunches does not improve over the next 45 days, NJNU will reconvene with management to address.

8.  Kentucky River:  The Employer has agreed to not seek to remove charge nurses from the bargaining unit for the contract term.

9.  Smoke Free Facility:  In the event that the Employer enacts a smoke free policy, it must be administered and enforced uniformly to all employees at the facility.

10.  Wages:  Effective August 1, 2007, eligible employees will move onto the “current scale”.   Effective August 1, 2008, every member on the scale will advance one step. 

Employees not on the scale will receive an approx. 3% increase across the board. 

Effective August 1, 2007, all per diem RNs will receive a flat increase of $1 per hour.

11.  Differentials:  April 30, 2008, the parties agree to reopen the agreement regarding on-call pay, float assignment differential, and per diem rates.