Local 5097 Newsletter 4th Quarter 2024
It’s hard to believe that we are already into the fall and the year will be coming to a close before we know it. We wanted to congratulate the RNs & LPNs for negotiating their 1st contract and welcome them to the HPAE Local 5097 family. Next Tuesday, November 5th is also Election Day and we encourage all of our members to make your voices heard and vote!
Labor/Management & Staffing Meeting
We held our meeting this past Tuesday and wanted to give updates on what was discussed below. We hold these meetings with management each month so if you have issues that you would like discussed at these committee meetings, please just let one of us know and we will put it on the agenda.
Staffing
We addressed the short staffing for CNAs, RNs, and LPNs on the weekends as it continues to be a problem. Management said that it may be a scheduling issue and that they would look at the monthly schedule and reassured us that the weekend short staffing would be addressed, and they would get us a follow up answer. We continue to push recruitment for all units. For the month of September Complete Care hired 8 CNAs, 3 LPNs and 1 RN.
PTO accrual time and rollover
We wanted to give some clarification about Article 17 of the CBA since there seems to have been some confusion with regards to the PTO. Members accrue
PTO hours based on hours of work: the accrual rate is determined by years of service and standard hours worked each week. The accrual rate can be found on page 32 of your agreement. You start accruing new PTO on your anniversary date, which is your date of hire, from when you hired in at The Harborage. On your benefit anniversary date (hire date), members can carry over from one year to the next, up to eighty (80) hours of your PTO and any excess is forfeited. Hopefully, this answers some of the questions we have been receiving if not please contact one of us for the explanation.
Health Insurance Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment will be the week of November 11 and there will be benefit representatives on site. There is a schedule sheet posted by the time clock for you to sign up for your appointment. All members must enroll even if you are already signed up from this year. If you do not take PTO or the health benefits you must elect a modified compensation package so that you will be entitled to the extra $1for each of the benefits you do not take (this is very important). You will also receive an email once you have signed up and you need to print that out and keep for your records. If you have any questions, please see Renee Cassese in HR, or speak to one of us.
Off-site parking, shuttle bus and handicap parking
We brought up the issue of the off-site parking not being well lit and creating an unsafe environment, along with the shuttle bus service schedule to allow for additional pick up and drop off times. We also addressed the issue of not allowing our members access to the handicap parking which is a requirement of the ADA. Management said this was an issue with HMH since they service the parking areas but that they would contact them for discussion and resolution to this matter and follow up with us on answers.
We are always looking for union reps on each floor, if you are interested, please let us know and we will provide the training.
You can also find information at https://hpae.org/local5097
TELL COMPLETE CARE AT HARBORAGE LLC. TO RESPECT US, PROTECT US & SUPPORT US
In solidarity,
Local 5097 Local Executive Board
- Sandra White, President
- Sharon Hodge, Vice-President/Grievance Chair
- Sharlene Grant, Secretary-Treasurer
- Mary Middleton, Rep for RN/LPN