Local 5030 Member Alert: 12-Hour Shifts for RNs on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors

A meeting was held on the 17^th of October with the CNO and HR Director of Palisades Medical Center to discuss the issue of establishing 12-hour shifts on the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th floor for RNs per Article 22.11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The union is not opposed to this concept, but we want to make sure that members benefits are protected under the agreement. HPAE Local 5030 proposed a Memorandum of Agreement at the meeting on the 17^th which would do just that. The union presented the following proposals to the CNO and HR.

1. All departments which have 12-hour shifts for RNs as of 9/30/19 (ED, Peds and Maternity) shall continue offering those shifts. 12-hour shifts shall be established for RNs on the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th floors.
2. Employees in these departments wishing to work additional hours can pick up an extra 12-hour shift.
3. Employees in these departments who regularly schedule an additional 12-hour shift shall have their PTO, ESL and other monetary benefits established at the 40-hour level of the CBA instead of the 36-hour level as outlined in Articles 18, 20 and 25. (Grandfathered in)
4. It is understood “An employee who is scheduled to be on call on a holiday will receive a compensable day off, regardless if such employee is called in or not.”
5. Any employee who volunteers and is qualified to work in another department to address issues of short staffing will be offered an “Open Shift Incentive.” Employees will be paid a bonus rate of ten dollars ($10) per hour if they work an extra shift on nights or weekends and eight ($8) per hour if they work extra weekday or evening shifts.
6. Any employee wishing to be trained to meet such qualifications to work in other units will be trained in a reasonable time period but not to exceed thirty (30) days.
7. Any employee can opt out of the additional 12-hour shift, but they will then have their benefits (PTO, ESL and other monetary benefits) at the 36-hour level per the CBA.
8. This agreement would not apply to new hires.

Management said that they would take our proposal under consideration and respond and we await their reply. Once HPAE Local 5030 and Palisades Medical Center reach an agreement, we will hold a membership meeting to discuss it with all the members. Any agreement is subject to the approval of the membership of HPAE Local 5030. It is the local leadership’s hope that an agreement can be reached so they we can retain our great nurses in order to better deal with our chronic short staffing issues. We will keep you posted as this process moves forward. If you have any questions, please reach out to your union leaders and reps.

In solidarity,

Local 5030 Local Executive Board