Member Alert: Negotiations 4/21/2020

Today was the first day of negotiations. The negotiations were held by video conference with the assistance of a federal mediator.
Opening statements by the Union and management were exchanged. We highlighted the difference between how we have approached this pandemic as frontline health care workers and how HMH has approached the pandemic as a corporation.
Locals 5138 & 5058 expressed our commitment to secure new contracts by their expiration date of 5/31/2020.
We made two proposals today.
• New N95 respirators, daily, for each bargaining unit employee.
• Hero Pay-$20/hour for ALL HOURS WORKED, not just hours over the regular schedule, retroactive to 3/2/20, and which sunsets 5/15/20 or the official end of state of emergency, whichever comes first.

We also had initial discussions about wage increases, staffing ratios, charge without assignment, reinstating the “ME TOO CLAUSE”, increase of On Call pay & Charge pay.
The next negotiations will be held on 4/27 and 4/28.

Please join the Contract Action Team. We need everyone to help spread the word during negotiations and the current crisis.