HHC/MAYORALS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 New York the official publicationnurse of the new york state nurses association Landmark HHC/Mayorals contract adds two new funds See inside. Information about our Education/Training, Child and Elder Care Funds Anne Bové, RN Bellevue Hospital Center and President, HHC/Mayorals Executive Council 2 NEW YORK NURSE HHC/MAYORALS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 New funds for RNs and our families Anne Bové, RN Public officials who are fair and open Bellevue Hospital Center and President, HHC/Mayorals are critical to NYSNA’s movement forward. Executive Committee o givebacks. More than 19 percent wage increas- for-profit entity have shown a keen es. Retro pay. These knowledge and sensitivity on the are building blocks of issues. He continues to speak out Nthe contract we bargained for about healthcare disparities and the and won. absolute and essential need to bring There is more to this outstanding them to an end. contract: two new funds: one for education and training; the second A new election season for child and elder care. Public Advocate Tish James also As professional caregivers, we earned our backing and for good are very aware of the need to reason: her door has been open enhance our knowledge of nursing to us on all issues important to through education and training. As NYSNA. On the dialysis sale, she caregivers at home, we appreciate weighed in with force and clarity. the needs of our children, spouses It was Tish James who stood – time Candidate Tish James campaigns for and parents. after time – in Brooklyn to call for Public Advocate. What’s exciting about these new the protection of hospitals and the funds is that we can shape them communities they serve. to meet our needs, evaluate those We are very fortunate to have attention and review to New York needs and change them as our these two public servants, and State candidates. Advocating for patients. Advancing the profession.SM experience dictates. many others we endorsed and who We are making new endorse- This special issue of New York won their races, in office. ments at this time and ask that you BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nurse helps explain these funds The election season is upon us give close attention to these candi- President and reports on the New York State again and NYSNA has given much dates. And vote!! Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN, MSN, FNP Patient Handling Act. First Vice President Patricia DiLillo, RN, MEd The importance of elections Second Vice President Marva Wade, RN Our elected officials have an Secretary important – sometimes direct – role Anne Bové, RN, MSN, BC, CCRN, ANP in our contract negotiations. Public Treasurer Patricia Kane, RN officials who are fair and open Directors at Large are critical to NYSNA’s movement Anthony Ciampa, RN Ingred Denny-Boyce, RN, BSN, MSN forward. Shirley Hunter, RN, MS For the first time – ever – we Tracey Kavanagh, RN, BSN Colleen B. Murphy, RN, MS weighed in last year to the local Grace Otto, RN, BA, BSN election process and endorsed Sean Petty, RN, CPEN Karine M. Raymond, RN, MSN local candidates in the New York Veronica Richardson, RN City and other races, including the Verginia Stewart, RN county legislatures of Westchester, Regional Directors Southeastern Michael Healy, RN Nassau and Suffolk. Our endorse- Southern Gwen Lancaster, RN, CCRN, MSN/Ed ments had a major impact and have Central Carol Ann Lemon, RN Lower Hudson/NJ Eileen Letzeiser, RN, BSN, MPH been cited throughout these locales. Western Kris Powell, RN In New York City, Bill de Blasio Eastern Martha Wilcox, RN was arrested along with NYSNA Executive Editor leadership and members during Jill Furillo, RN, BSN, PHN his mayoral campaign to bring Executive Director attention to hospital closings in Editorial offices located at: 131 W 33rd. St., New York, NY 10001 Brooklyn. As mayor, he engaged Phone: 212-785-0157 x 159 in HHC contract negotiations that Email: [email protected] Website: www.nysna.org were fair and fruitful. His dealings Subscription rate: $33 per year with us in the proposed sale of four ISSN (Print) 1934-7588/ISSN (Online) 1934-7596 ©2014, All rights reserved HHC chronic dialysis clinics to a Candidate Bill de Blasio addresses members after his win in the mayoral primary. EDUCATION/ TRAINING NEW YORK NURSE 3 HHC/MAYORALS SPECIAL ISSUE 2014 Union training and upgrading fund nder the new contract NYSNA review courses in Critical Care, hybrid courses which mix on-line nurses can shape education Emergency Room, Pediatrics, with class work are permitted. Uand training to meet nurse Medical Surgical and Labor and Where demand is high, unions needs, bringing the collective knowl- Delivery are most common. have collaborated with colleges edge and dollars of nurses together. Under such funds, other unions to hold classes inside hospitals to That’s what the new fund for union have set up programs for admissions coincide with shift schedules. training and upgrading affords and career counseling, other forms Recently, new models have been NYSNA nurses. This fall NYSNA of tuition assistance, such as in tech- pursued. In order to expedite last nurses will begin to form the gover- nical programs, and for full time remaining credits towards the BSN, THE CONTRACT WIN for nance of this new benefit fund, set scholarships. Free continuing educa- members in some unions receive HHC/Mayoral members is priorities and begin implementation tion courses have also been offered. one-day-per-week release time with one of the most significant of this important new educational It will be up to the NYSNA stipend. In both the City University I have known in my 30-year and training opportunity. membership to make specific deci- of New York and State University career with healthcare unions. By the terms of our new contract sions about the allocation of fund of New York systems, voucher pro- The contract terms entail a with the Health and Hospitals resources: what technical and grams have been set up, relieving substantial wage increase, Corporation, 75 cents of every $100 retro payments and a solid of payroll will be allocated by HHC benefit package; there are no to the new fund. At current levels, givebacks. And there are two that means that more than $5 million new funds in which you, the a year will be made available to nurs- members, have the say in its es for these purposes. The fund will formation and direction. It is increase with future raises in wages. truly a landmark contract. Your support and the input Fund oversight and benefits from each and every facility The new contract creates a jointly- and unit in the HHC/Mayorals administered independent fund for made this contract a reality. these benefits. This functions as an For those of us carrying independent committee, not a man- out the negotiations, the agement entity, and will determine bargaining team coordination, the types of benefits and amounts perseverance and focus were paid, priorities to be set and other at the highest professional rules of eligibility and access. level. Our team’s total Other unions have had strong commitment to this contract success in the administration and was demonstrated throughout direction of education and training "I'M GOING FOR MY MASTERS. I go to Lehman to become a family the process. This coordinated funds in this fashion. Fellow care- nurse practitioner. I would be able to take on more courses and bargaining effort, in which I givers at 1199SEIU have enjoyed complete the program faster." participated, was outstanding these benefits for many years, Inez Stewart, RN (at left) and I am very proud of the with members setting direction team's work. "FOR ME, EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT. You have to take the and reviewing plan priorities on a For this effort, and others – in course and stay up to date even if you're not pursuing a degree." regular basis. In Seattle, 1199SEIU NYC’s private sector bargaining NW likewise shares in the admin- Olga Smuglina, RN preparation, new efforts with istration of a fund for the benefit of WOODHUll MEDICAL CENTER all RNs in the Capital Region, 24,000 healthcare workers, includ- a new push for single payer ing registered nurses. The fund degree programs will be given pri- members of up-front tuition pay- in Albany and our continued began in July, 2009. ority; and what role will seniority ments. Other programs also remove attention to safe staffing, I At the outset, during a start- play in funding distribution. the burden of up-front payment. can only say that NYSNA has up period, bylaws are drafted, “Life experience” credits are taken on a leading role in the fund trustees selected, staff hired Other funds at work being issued in some programs a protection of healthcare quality and fund budgets set. Once pro- It is important to stress that the popular way to accumulate credits. standards and the extension of grams are selected, a high priority needs and priorities of NYSNA Keeping skills current so that care to all New Yorkers. becomes the establishment of out- members are central to the new fund nurses can continue to provide qual- NYSNA: Caring for ALL reach so that all members are made for union training and upgrading. ity, professional care to patients New Yorkers. aware of fund offerings and can A democratic process of selecting remains NYSNA’s highest priority. Jill Furillo, RN choose to participate themselves. members to serve on the fund gov- Your participation is critical to the Executive Director In the realm of training and erning body will be in place. process of setting up these impor- NYSNA upgrading, BSN completion is Other healthcare unions give tant benefits.