NOVEMBER 2019
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
ECMC Nurses are Union Strong! ECMC nurses turned out big for NYSNA’s annual Convention. Eleven Delegates attended, along with a handful of member observers. We also joined with other nurse leaders from Western New York to represent Erie County and beyond.
Kena also took a lead role in addressing the entire NYSNA Delegation, presenting our union’s major accomplishments and progress on previous Convention resolutions in the last year.
Learning and Engaging
In addition to workshops and plenary sessions, nurses got on buses to attend a rally at Albany Medical Center, in solidarity with the 2,000 nurses who are struggling for a first contract. Although Albany Med nurses voted overwhelmingly to form a union more than a year ago, the employer has been dragging its feet in negotiations and is supporting a decertification effort.
Several workshops addressed issues specific to public sector workers, or incorporated a public sector perspective. The workshop, Understanding and Preserving Collective Advocacy Rights for Public Sector Nurses: The Implications of the Janus decision and NY State Taylor Law, featured ECMC leader and NYSNA Board Member, Chiqkena “Kena” Collins, RN, as well as nurses from Westchester Medical Center and NYC Health + Hospitals, the two other major public hospital systems represented by NYSNA. A first-time Delegate from ECMC who attended the workshop, Khadija Hatten, RN, said, “I’m a fairly new nurse and union member, so I thought this panel was very good. I didn’t realize all of the history and just how important unions are to protect our rights.”
Solidarity in Action
“Union-busting is disgusting,” said Kena. “Albany Medical Center may be using every trick in the book to undermine their nurses, but our statewide strength and solidarity will defeat them.” ECMC nurses rallied alongside Albany Med and other NYSNA nurses from around the state, showing our strength in numbers and proudly demonstrating that we are union strong!
WE ARE NURSES, WE ARE NYSNA!
Giving Report: Convention Edition
Taneca Smith, RN
Khadija Hatten, RN
Q: How long have you worked at ECMC and what Q: How long have you worked at ECMC and what brought you here?
brought you here?
A:
I’ve been at ECMC for five years. I work on the post-anesthesia care unit. This is my first nursing job. I used to work at a group home, and I have a passion for taking care of people. I thought nursing could help me take care of people even better, and my voice could be heard through a different avenue.
A: This December will be five years at ECMC. I’m in
Q: I know this is your first time as a Delegate. Is this
also your first time at Convention?
also your first time at Convention?
A: This is my first time at Convention. It’s a little overwhelming in the beginning. The rules, bylaws, everything can be a little confusing. It takes a while to digest and understand how it all works. So far, I learned a lot and the classes have been great.
Q: What’s your big takeaway from being here? A: It feels great to be a part of NYSNA. We are very strong and look at each other like brothers and sisters. They really do have my back. When I have questions, or when people come to me with questions, we can find answers together and be united in a brotherhood and sisterhood. I would tell my coworkers: know your contract, help out where you can, be a part of something that you’re already a member of, just be as active as you can.
the Progressive ICU, but I started in mental health. This is my first nursing job and my first union job. At my old job, I tried to start a union, but it didn’t come off well. I got a lot of push-back.
Q: I know this is your first time as a Delegate. Is this A: This is my first time, and the Convention is great— it’s very informational. It’s nice to come out and network and see other people out here doing what they say they’re going to do. I like the union, period. We’re hands-on and that’s why I want to be a part of it.
Q:
What’s your big takeaway from being here?
A:
More ECMC members should come to Convention next year. They have to see what the union actually does. You see the background of how we’re working to get things passed. You learn more about why things are the way they are. And we can all be a part of it. I don’t think everyone knows that they can come. They may think it’s just for Delegates, but you are part of the union—you are the union—so you should be here.
NOVEMBER 2019
Convention, Con’t
A Newsletter for NYSNA RNs at Erie County Medical Center
Kena’s Corner
Lee Barnett, RN Q:
How long have you worked at ECMC and what brought you here?
Q: So much of this month’s issue focuses on Convention. What’s happening in the facility these days?
A: I’ve worked at ECMC since 2012. My favorite thing A: about being a nurse and working in the OR is the variety—there’s something new every day.
Q: I know you’re here as a non-Delegate observer. Is this also your first time at Convention? A: Yes, this is my first Convention. There’s a lot to take in actually. There’s a lot of background to learn. If I’m lucky enough to come back next year as a voting Delegate, I feel like I’ll have a good base of knowledge and will know what to expect.
Q: What’s your big takeaway from being here? A: My favorite part of the Convention has been meeting people from other parts of the state, learning about where they work, and what their concerns are. I was lucky enough to attend the retirement workshop, and retiree health insurance was a concern many members share. There’s a roomful of 500 people who really care about the direction that this union is going. Everybody is trying their best to do things that improve the lives of our patients and us as nurses. Don’t complain unless you try to make a change. This is the ground to make the change in the structure we work in.
We’re working on implementing some of our wins from the contract. Phase one of the Staffing Committees is finished. We distributed the 45 new positions to the areas that had the most immediate need. Now we’re working on phase two, which is setting ratios for each unit. We are handing out staffing surveys right now. Please fill out the surveys as soon as possible, and return them to your floor Delegate, or your NYSNA Reps, Mike and Jennifer. We also won Release Time language in our contract for the first time, so that frontline ECMC nurses gain handson experience dealing with the kinds of issues that our union Reps do. We just rolled out the program. Each month, a different Delegate will get the opportunity to get released from duty to take on union-focused duties, for up to 24 hours a week.
Q: That all sounds really exciting. Am I right that you are on release right now?
A: Things are going really well, and I am the first person to pioneer the new release time program. At first, it’s a bit unnerving. It’s different than doing the nursing work that I’ve been trained to do and have done for years. But I’m learning a ton, and I’m really excited to pass the torch to the next Release Time Rep!
UPCOMING EVENTS (For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep)
✚
SEMINAR AT SEA May 30 - June 6, 2020, Italy & Greece
Save the Date: Seminar at Sea May 30 - June 2, 2020 Italy & Greece
Interested in being a delegate and making sure your coworkers and issues are being represented? Contact Jennifer.Valentin@nysna.org or Michael.Graham@nysna.org
Stay connected: join our Facebook group! www.facebook.com/ groups/eriecountynysna/
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 & Cazenovia 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 “Kena” Collins, Critical Care Specialty Rep, MICU & Western NY Regional Director Loretta Palermo, Emergency Dept. Specialty, ED Dana Bellido-Clark, Med/Surg Specialty Shawntres Currin, Med/Surg Specialty, 7 Zone 2 Sherry Thomas, OR/Recovery Specialty, PACU Elizabeth McRae, TV Specialty 1, Naval Park Steve Bailey, Terrace View Specialty 2, Kensington Murnita Bennett, At-Large, Care Management
Floor Delegates Dana Brown, Anesthesiology Dionna Vasquez, Care Management Julie Roman, Health Information Management Deanna McCray, Outpatient Dialysis Shawn Mitchell, 5 North Alicia Geiss Shannon Mahar Matt Botticelli, 6 North Tara Hill, 9 Zone 3 Jennifer Greene, 9 Zone 4 Katrina Reynolds, 9 Zone 4 Cynthia Dwyer, 7 Zone 1 Mackenzie DeCarlo, CPEP Ykeeta Henderson, CPEP Amina Shaibi, CPEP Ben Stanford, Unit Manager Delegate Colleen Casali, ASU Valeta Dunn, 8 Zone 1 Alexandra Vasquez, 8 Zone 1 Christa Poteat, 8 Zone 2 Lee Barnett, OR Liam Morrissey, OR Jennifer Brinkworth, 4 Zone 4 Avneet Jacob, 12 Zone 2 Dylan Deabold, 12 Zone 2 Khadija Hatten, 12 Zone 3 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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