MARCH 2019
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
Bargaining Heats Up ECMC and Terrace View nurses have been moving full speed ahead with bargaining a new contract. As always, we began our first few sessions by bargaining non-economic issues. We succeeded in coming to nineteen Tentative Agreements so far, which will be voted on by the full membership at the end of negotiations. On Thursday, March 28, we had our first bargaining session about economic issues. Nearly 100 Bargaining Committee and other members packed into the evening session. NYSNA presented several economic proposals, and as the atmosphere heated up, some nurses who thought they would attend for only five minutes stayed for 45 minutes. “It was a little shocking to witness the negotiations, because nurses believe we do such a valuable job, yet someone across the table is saying you don’t deserve something,” said ECMC veteran nurse Marie Zanghi, RN. “If more people knew what went on in these meetings, and we all stood strong, I think we would see results.” Another member who attended a bargaining session for the first time, Cindy Pilat, RN, from Terrace View Naval Park explained: “Nurses aren’t just a number—we are
essential. All nurses should get involved in this contract campaign, because it affects us all. Showing up benefits us, because it encourages the administration to do better to retain nurses.” “The meeting was intense, and I would recommend any nurse to attend for even five minutes,” said critical care nurse Dawn Gredzicki, RN. “It’s an awesome thing to see what NYSNA does for us. I’m proud to say that NYSNA represents me.” The next bargaining session is Wednesday, April 17. This is the session where we will hear management’s response to our proposals in the form of counter-proposals. You won’t want to miss this one! If you can’t drop by for five (or 45) minutes, be sure to show your solidarity by wearing red!
Save the Date! Next Bargaining Session & Wear Red Day: Wednesday, April 17 8AM-4PM HR Training Room, Ground Floor
WE ARE NURSES, WE ARE NYSNA!
Bargaining Summary Tentative Agreements Nineteen Tentative Agreements have been made so far, including: • Qualifying for assault pay regardless of whether or not the incident that caused the injury meets the penal law definition of assault (requiring injury and intent). • 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.
Our Main Economic Proposals • Increased benefit accruals for RPT employees • Expanded per diem language, including pay raises • Increased charge pay • Annual pay raises over a four year contract • Reduced health insurance costs • Expanded retiree health benefit • Increased shift differential • Increased vacation accruals and vacation sell back amounts • Increased tuition reimbursement benefit • Addition of a release time union representative
• Qualifying for light duty for on duty injuries for up to 120 days. If light duty is not available on the employee’s shift they will be able to work on a different shift and in a different department that has light duty work available without any reduction of pay.
ing, nurses told stories about specific challenges on their units, and read POAs from other units to give her a clearer picture of what our working conditions—and patients’ healing conditions—are currently like. Wallace was surprised to hear the harrowing stories and near misses that nurses often experience.
Nurses Gain Support for Staffing On Friday, March 22, a group of ECMC nurses paid Assembly Member Monica Wallace (AD 143-Lancaster) a visit in her district office. Wallace is an ally of NYSNA nurses and a strong supporter of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act. Nurses met with her to build on our positive relationship, and to update her on some of the challenges we face at ECMC. As the only level I trauma center and safety net hospital in the region, ECMC is important to a broad range of elected officials in Western New York. During the meet-
“This is the first time I did something political, and I was surprised by how welcome and comfortable I felt,” explained Krystal Ketter-Franklin, RN, from Adolescent Behavioral Health. “The Assemblywoman really listened to what we were saying and asked good questions. Nurses need to give our perspective to elected officials and people beyond the hospital, so that they can fully understand why we are pushing so hard for safe staffing.” After the meeting, Assembly Member Wallace sent a letter of support for a safe staffing, urging Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to include the safe staffing study and legislation in the New York State budget. To get more involved in educating elected officials and the community about the important work nurses do, please contact your Rep. You can also RSVP to attend the Monday, May 6 Lobby Day in Albany by emailing mcp@nysna.org.
MARCH 2019
A Newsletter for NYSNA RNs at Erie County Medical Center
Q: I understand being a nurse is a second career for you. How does it compare?
It’s funny because I was a hairdresser first, and I know nurses who go on to be hairdressers as their second career. They are both hands-on and helping professions. I believe the right things happen at the right time. I don’t regret becoming a nurse for one minute.
Q: As a first-time union member, you’ve probably
Ask a Nurse: Lisa Nowak, RN
Q: How long have you been a nurse? I’ve been a nurse for about five years now. Most of that time, I’ve been at Terrace View. I’m a Team Leader in the Sub-acute unit.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a nurse? The patients and their families become part of who we are here at Terrace View and on Canal Side. They become our family. It’s never easy to be a patient—it’s usually a bad situation. But being able to guide families through the decision-making process, and playing such an integral role at such a hard time in their life, brings you close. I also love seeing patients make new, lasting friendships here with one another. To witness people who would maybe have never met, and at such a hard time in their life, be able to laugh and learn from each other; it reminds us that what we are doing here is right.
Q: When did you first get involved in NYSNA?
I’ve become involved pretty recently—within the last year. I wanted to be a voice for the other RNs not just on my unit, but as a whole, and being a union delegate gave me that voice. It’s a collaborative process. I may not always have the answer, but I want to be part of the process of figuring out how to do things better. We can have an impact on the big picture. Improving something on my unit can improve things for everyone. So far, I’ve played a role in starting a preceptorship program and in building bridges with multiple disciplines here at Terrace View and at the hospital. When you help create a process to ensure efficient and effective ways to streamline quality care, you help the patient.
heard a lot about how the labor movement has been under attack for decades and less and less people are members of unions now, although NYSNA is bucking that trend and growing throughout New York State. Why do you think nurses want to be part of a strong union that protects our practice and our patients?
When I first became a nurse, I didn’t get involved in the union right away, because unions were new to me and I was still figuring out how to do my new career. Being in a union is still new to me, and I’m continuously learning. We need to make sure that the union stays strong, because it gives us the venue to speak the truth and advocate for our patients. The patients are changing all the time—they’re more acute and they have increased comorbidities. If nurses can’t speak out, positive changes won’t happen. Patients will be negatively affected. Healthcare is changing all the time, and there are so many people who are making the decisions who may not understand what is happening on the floor. We need to work together to ensure safe, effective care for everyone. The union gives our nurses the voice to stand up and deliver such care. Too many people forget why we’re here in the first place. It isn’t just about a task or the bottom line. It is to help people get better with their acute condition, as well as to hopefully change their life as a whole. People forget that when a nurse is able to give the proper amount of time, care and compassion to a sick person, you change everything for them. That time cannot be “planned” out in a template that management created only to ensure the bottom line is met. The union gives us the chance to ensure that patients come first. We can speak up about the problems we see on a daily basis, because we’re there on the floor. We are the eyes and ears who can advocate for positive changes in healthcare—not only for our patients, but for the facility itself. It would detrimental if unions became obsolete.
UPCOMING EVENTS (For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep)
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PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH NURSING CERT. REVIEW April 11-12, ECMC
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BARGAINING SESSION April 17, 8 AM, HR Training Room
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MED-SURG NURSING CERT. REVIEW April 17-18, ECMC
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MEDICAL MISSION TO BRAZIL April 23 - May 9, Brazil
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LOBBY DAY May 6, Albany
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2019 SEMINAR AT SEA May 12-19, Spain
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MEDICAL MISSION TO PERU May 13-19, Cusco, Peru
Executive Committee
Kevin Donovan, Vice Co-Chair, 7 Zone 4 Karen Green, Terrace View Vice Co-Chair, Supervisor Heather Scott, Secretary, Behavioral Health Clinics Cathy Bystrak, Grievance Chair, MLK & Cazanovia Lisa Nowak, Terrace View Grievance Chair, Canal Ray Rebmann, Membership Chair, 7 Zone 1 Rachel Larkin, Behavioral Health Specialty 1, 5 South Sarah Ott, Behavioral Health Specialty 2, 5 South Tamara Barr, Critical Care Specialty Rep , TICU Chiqkena Collins, Critical Care Specialty Rep, MICU & Western NY Regional Director Loretta Palermo, Emergency Dept. Specialty, ED Dana Bellido-Clark, Med/Surg Specialty, 8 Zone 1 Shawntres Currin, Med/Surg Specialty, 7 Zone 2 Sherry Thomas, OR/Recovery Specialty, PACU Elizabeth McCray, TV Specialty 1, Naval Park Steve Bailey, Terrace View Specialty 2, Kensington Murnita Bennett, At-Large, Care Management
Floor Delegates
Stay connected: join our Facebook group! www.facebook.com/ groups/eriecountynysna/
Dana Brown, Anesthesiology Dionna Vasquez, Care Management Shawn Mitchell, 5 North Alicia Geiss, PACU Shannon Mahar, 6 Zone 2 Matt Botticelli, 6 North Tara Hill, 9 Zone 3 Jennifer Greene, 9 Zone 3 Cynthia Dwyer, 7 Zone 1 Mackenzie DeCarlo, CPEP Ykeeta Henderson, CPEP Ben Stanford, Delegate over all Unit Managers Colleen Casali, ASU Valeta Dunn, 8 Zone 1 Lee Barnett, OR Liam Morrissey, OR Jennifer Brinkworth, 4 Zone 4
If you’d like to join our leadership team, speak to a Delegate, or contact your Rep.
GET ANSWERS/STAY IN TOUCH Your NYSNA Representatives: Michael Graham michael.graham@nysna.org 716-467-0449 Jennifer Valentín-Polanco jennifer.valentin@nysna.org 716-445-6319 Dental benefit questions: www.Aetna.com, 877-238-6200 Prescription benefit questions: www.optumrx.com, 888-691-0130 For all other benefits: www.lmhf.net, 716-601-7980
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