FEBRUARY 2019
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
ECMC Bargaining Starts Strong In our first bargaining session, we agreed on the ground rules. In our second bargaining session, nurses wasted no time in discussing our non-economic proposals, as well as those that management brought to the table. Over the course of the session on February 6, we came to a tentative agreement about several items that were raised, including: • Removing transfer restrictions for promotional opportunities. This would allow nurses to bid into promotional jobs even if they have already transferred within the last 12 months. • Expanding union representation on the labor management committee. • Modifying language to reflect that the health department is no longer covered by this contract.
• Improving communication by expanding union bulletin boards. We hope to make progress on other non-economic issues, including increased staffing, vacation guidelines and layoff and recall protocol, before turning to bargaining about economic issues. Over the course of each session, a dozen nurses dropped in on breaktime to observe bargaining, and many more showed solidarity by wearing red. Let’s see if we can expand that sea of red at the next session! Shawntres Currin, RN, a member of the bargaining committee from 7 Zone 2 Med-Surg said, “To win the strongest contract possible, we need to stay united. We need to inform our colleagues about what’s happening at the bargaining table. Find out who is at the table from your unit and ask them about the contract.”