upstate Highlights

the past year has been punctuated by concerns over CoVID, staffing, wages, and contracts . there isn’t a healthcare professional in the country, much less New York state, who hasn’t been impacted by these issues . this was therefore the focus for nurses upstate and below is a list of highlights connected to staffing, working conditions, contracts and CoVID-19: Allegany county – In 2020, the county attempted to eliminate flu clinic services noting they would reap a cost-savings and that the service was duplicative . NYSNA members fought back and there has been no elimination of flu clinic services to date .

Brooks memorial hospital – everyone should be assured of their health and safety when they go to work . this belief inspired NYSNA to take on the issue of workplace violence . the organizing intensified after a member was assaulted by a patient at Brooks, one of the few all professional units, represented by NYSNA . Consequently, the executive committee demanded personal safety alarms for members and other nursing staff and changes to supervision requirements . elizabethtown – NYSNA members continued to organize in protest of problematic working conditions which compromise nurse and patient safety . After a nurse leader filed a protest of Assignment over conditions in the emergency Room, management posted two new positions . ellis hospital – the psychiatric units have been condensed to 18 beds with the Adolescent psychiatric unit capped at 8 . Due to increased code greys, staffing inadequacy, and other challenges, nurses successfully demanded increased security . A security room was created on B3 . Security must round every hour and if a high-risk patient is admitted, security must remain on the unit . Separately, we currently have nine class actions regarding staffing violations and management’s refusal to follow the CBA staffing grids . A step one grievance hearing was held for all nine class actions . ellis management responded with a $20,000 Retention and Recruitment Bonus and is currently meeting to discuss additional pilots and proposals . ecmc/Terrace view – NYSNA supported members at eCMC in submitting and documenting over 1,115 poAs (signed by over 2,900 nurses) over unsafe conditions at the facility . the union’s political and community organizing department arranged a meeting with erie County legislator April Baskin to discuss the importance of safe staffing and dangerous understaffing across various units at eCMC . gouverneur – the Committee bargained pilot programs to address recruitment issues and staffing shortages . A pilot was developed to provide RNs who agree to one year employment $10,000 .00, another pilot was developed to provide current RNs $5,000 .00 for referring RNs who accept employment at the Hospital, and the last pilot was developed to provide additional compensation to RNs who volunteer to work extra shifts . In addition to their regular/premium rates of pay, RNs who work an extra day shift will be paid $30 .00 per hour and $40 .00 per hour for extra night shift work . horseheads central school District –Negotiations continue with the school district . NYSNA represents nine nurses throughout the district who work in separate buildings . We’ve been working to dissuade the school district from increasing members’ contributions to the health insurance plan . We have also protested changes to the retiree plan . It has been difficult to move the employer off this position as other unions have already agreed to managements offer . nathan littauer – A second-floor room was remodeled and dedicated strictly for nurses on-call .

ny Dialysis Kenmore – We are gearing up for contract negotiations at Fresenius in Kenmore, NY, where NYSNA representS 3 members . During the Dec . 6 bargaining conference, members set priorities and expressed excitement about upcoming negotiations . olean – After extensive organizing over hospital operations, the Ceo of olean resigned . the interim Ceo has yet to meet with NYSNA but our push for the health system to resolve the staffing crisis continues .

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