Local 5185 September 2024 Union Update

On August 28, your Union Officers met with management for our monthly meeting. We brought up your concerns to management so they can be addressed.

Status of CarePoint:

1. CarePoint’s Finances have slightly improved since our last update, mostly due to collecting on bills better.
2. Insight Healthcare’s role has not changed. We were able to get a hold of Insight’s Corporate COO and press him on several issues. Insight and CarePoint are working on a new business plan. We are pushing to make sure it protects our hospital and Union Jobs, and budgets for fair wages.
3. We have made an extensive request for financial information, which should be responded to next week.

Staffing:

1. CNA/PCPs: We reviewed CNA/PCP staffing. BMC is keeping to the 1:10 ratio we won. We reviewed a few violations as well and found they were mostly to do with 1:1s. We
2. Grievance Settlement: You can find our staffing grievance settlement and how it affects your department here: https://www.hpae.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-Staffing-Grievance-Settlement-Signed-518531924.pdf
3. Using the ’System Float’ program we created, BMC has been able to hire some hard-to-fill RN and Tech positions. We are pushing to use the same program to recruit more Professional, Service, and Clerical positions.

Supplies:

1. We highlighted several supplies that are low, and discussed the uniforms and scrubs supplied by BMC coming out dirty. Management will work to make sure someone is there in the morning to make sure they are clean.
2. Per our Supply Grievance settlement, if your department is short on something (or you think will be short soon), Immediately notify your supervisor. If it is not handled quickly, you can go to the Director of Nursing. Supplies are prioritized by what will keep the Department open, what’s needed to do procedures, and safety devices, then as needed for all other supplies

Down-staffing:

1. Before you are down-staffed, your supervisor must offer you paid time to do classes, HealthStream, etc., if available. This can include Handle With Care, CPR, or Elective Courses on HealthStream.

Union News / Benefits:

1. Local 5185 Contract Extension Agreement: https://www.hpae.org/resources/local-5185-contract/
2. UnionPlus Benefits (discounts on Health, Finance, Education, and more): https://www.unionplus.org/ (use “AFT” as your International).
3. AFT Member Benefits: https://www.aft.org/member-benefits
4. HPAE Member Benefits: https://www.hpae.org/resource/benefits/
5. Read our President, Debbie White’s, new article celebrating our union’s 50-year anniversary and our fight for safe staffing: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2024/08/op-ed-debbie-white-50-years-hpae-history-reflects-union-memberships-transformative-power/.