Local 5089 University Hospital Contract Negotiations Update: August 16, 2024

We met on August 16, 2024 to continue negotiations. We presented our wage proposals in this session. Our wage proposals reflect the hard work and the dedication our negotiations unit employees bring to this hospital each and every shift.

We proposed adding 4 steps to our UB scale for staff nurses as well as across the board increases and our step movements. We proposed creating experience based ranges for the UL and US scales for the Case Management Coordinators, Community Health Nurse, Oncology Nurse Navigators, and Utilization management Coordinators and APNs. This would place these groups on experienced based ranges with across the board increases as well as step movements. We proposed an increase to the CRNA scale from six steps to twelve steps. Increases to the scale for the third and fourth years, shift differentials for night and evening shifts.

We proposed increases throughout the contract for the Per Diem staff. We recognize and value our Per Diems and our proposals to increase the rates of pay for the Staff Nurse and CRNA per diem workers is important to our union. The Hospital proposed ZERO increases for per diems in our contract. We were offended and told them that no increase was not acceptable.

UH RESPONSES TO OUR ECONOMIC PROPOSALS:

We received responses to our economic proposals in the 8/16/24 session. We continue to push for increase the differentials in the contract but the Hospital rejected each differential increase. They continue to push for concession on OT calculations and proposed to eliminate non-working time from OT calculations. UH continues to press adding Juneteenth at the expense of one of our float holidays. The Hospital also provided a wage proposal with 2% increases (step and across the board total). We received a counter proposal on uniform allowance and tuition reimbursement that would increase both for the new contract cycle. The Hospital proposed a clinical ladder structure that we will review and counter at our next session.

STAFFING UPDATE:

The Hospital provided a counter proposal to our staffing proposal this session. They rejected our ratio language and moved back to target staffing. The dispute resolution section was rejected and the Hospital proposed moving back to current contract language without any increase for financial compensation for violating the staffing ratios. We have made progress towards a formal staffing committee and will continue to build on that language.

Our next session is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21st.

Take a moment to show your support to the negotiations team and sign up to be a Contract Action Team member. We need the support of everyone in the unit to be successful in our contract fight.

Signup here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/local-5089-uh-contract-action-team-signup/

In Solidarity,

HPAE Local 5089 Negotiations Team:
Banita Herndon HPAE President, Cynthia Baez-Lugo HPAE Treasurer, Wendy Bobcombe HPAE Secretary, Joe Ulanday, Wanda Caudle HPAE Vice-President UH-Med-Surg Division, Dara Skinner HPAE Vice President Perioperative Services