Local 5030 Bargaining Update, May 14

After weeks of waiting, we have finally received HMH Palisades economic package. Palisades is proposing that all employees be moved to a merit-based system for determining annual increases. Currently, your annual increases are contractually negotiated at a fixed rate, which ensures that all employees receive a fair raise. The merit-based system ensures that only the highest scorers receive a full raise, with those employees receiving an overall rating of “3” barely receiving a raise at all. Remember a “3” is defined as a “valued employee” who performs all their job duties. The current evaluation system is also only 50% objective to your job duties with 50% of your overall score being subjectively assessed by your local leader. We believe that all employees are valued, and all deserve a good yearly raise.

Again, we are asking for market rate adjustments for all employees, that all members be placed on the proper step of wage scale based on years of experience, across the board raises, Hero Pay, increase in shift diff, increase in on-call pay and increase in preceptor pay along with increase in Tuition Reimbursement.

Palisades has also stated that they will be making future economic proposals next week regarding the pension, benefits, and uniforms which will affect all employees.

The hospital is also holding to their floating proposal which will again allow nurses to be floated outside of their districts and allow for the hospital to float all nurses regardless of years served in the hospital. Again, our proposal is to maintain floating districts and for Palisades to focus on staffing appropriately so that there is no need for floating.

Remember, our contract is set to expire on May 31, 2021. If the employer refuses to compromise on these issues that are important to our members, we must voice our concerns to management and be prepared to fight by any means necessary. We are simply fighting for a contract that is fair for all employees especially after all that we have been through over the past year and a half.

TAKE ACTION

Speak with your Directors and the CNO and tell them you deserve a Fair Contract Now. It is time for Palisades to step up and take care of the frontline workers who put everything on the line during this pandemic to take care of our patients. The contract expires on May 31 and we will keep you posted through members alerts, email and robo calls.

We will continue to bargain in good faith, and it is our hope to reach a Fair Contract prior to May 31. We will also begin distributing strike preparedness plans in the event that we do not reach fair terms on our issues.

In solidarity,

Local 5030 Negotiations Team