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MM RN Negotiation Update 06-2014
Jun 13, 2014
Local 40
 June 12, 2014
  
  
                                                
                   Update from the Bargaining Committee

We are writing to provide you an update on collective bargaining. We have had six negotiation sessions since negotiations resumed on April 29th. Unfortunately, little progress has been made. The Hospital's latest economic proposal, given to us on Monday, is nearly identical to all their proposals since day one. The basics are wholly unchanged from their so-called "last, best and final offer" last November. It is disheartening that the Hospital continues to demand a slash and burn contract.

The wage and benefit "highlights" in the June 9thproposal:

  • The Hospital has lowered the starting wage by 7.5%;

  • The Hospital continues to freeze the wage steps, meaning you will remain in your current wage step without movement for five more years;

  • The Hospital continues to maintain the right to hire new employees to work with you at higher wage rates than they may be paying you (i.e., the friends and family program);

  • There is no wage increase for the first three years of the contract; years 4 and 5 have wage increases of only 1% each year;

  • The Hospital proposes an annual discretionary lump sum bonus based on HCHAP score improvement. The decision each year whether to give the bonus is totally discretionary with the Hospital. The amount of the bonus, if given, is totally discretionary with the Hospital;

  • The Hospital reduces PTO accrual for Tier I by 5 days and for Tier II by 3 days. PTO time is increased for Tier III by 1 day per year;

  • 0.9 status is no longer treated as full time for PTO accrual but rather 0.9 status members will see an additional 10% reduction of time. (Although Tier III 0.9 status will accrue 1 additional PTO day each year, they then be reduced by 10% of their total, for a net loss); and

  • The Hospital will slash On-Call minimums by 50%, from 4 hours to 2 hours;

The Hospital's demand with respect to your health insurance:

  • For the remainder of 2014, the Hospital will increase your premium contribution share significantly: Tier Green by 100%, Tier 1 by 50% and Blue Cross by 20%;

  • Starting in 2015, you will be forced into the MyChoice Plan, which is a huge profit center for McLaren Health Systems. The Hospital, at a future date (after the contract is signed) and at its total discretion, will decide the plan design, co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance as well as your premium contribution;

  • Starting in 2016, the Hospital promises not to increase premium co-shares by more than 3% (from whatever rates they unilaterally set in 2015), but continues to have the unfettered discretion to increase to whatever amount they choose your co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles;

  • Hospital provided LTD is eliminated;

  • Hospital provided STD will be discretionary, provided if and on the terms the Hospital alone decides; and

  • The Hospital insists on removing most issues that may arise with respect to the Agreement's health insurance provisions from the grievance and arbitration procedure.

The Hospital's last proposal on the RMSA, from November 2013, is to eliminate it entirely (and thus the Hospital would simply pocket the more than one million dollars it could owe RNs under the Plan during the contract term). Since negotiations resumed on April 29th, at each session the Hospital has told us that they would have additional information for us regarding their RMSA proposal. More than a month (and six bargaining sessions) later, despite our repeated requests, they still haven't provided us anything.

Pulling remains a significant issue. Although we thought progress had been made in resolving Article 11 staffing issues during the last few weeks, the Hospital yesterday presented us a counter proposal that continues to let them pull you from unit to unit on a daily basis. This was and continues to be unacceptable.

The Bargaining Committee is incredibly disappointed that after nearly 18 months of bargaining, and more recently renewed promises from the Hospital that it would act in good faith, this continues to be what they want and expect you to accept. We know that you are disappointed too. We promise to continue to bargain as long as it takes to get a fair and equitable contract that protects you. Unfortunately, negotiations do not resume until July 11th, as the Hospital declined our offers of other dates in June stating they were too busy with other matters.

We are in the process of scheduling an open membership meeting to provide you with additional information regarding negotiations and to answer your questions. We will provide you with the details soon. In the meantime, as always, please contact a Bargaining Committee member with any questions.

                                                       In Unity,

                                 Local 40 Bargaining Committee

  
  
  
  
Janice Docherty RN-ER:  Local 40 President BC Member
Email: jdocherty@opeiulocal40.org  Phone: (586) 904-6194
  
Jeff Morawski RN-CCL: Local 40, MM Vice President BC Member
Email: jmorawski@opeiulocal40.org  Phone: (586) 260-9572
  
Maria Szejbach RN-ICU: BC Chairman
Email: rszejbach@aol.com Phone:(586) 925-2477
       
Joanne Czeiszperger RN-ER: Local 40 Treasurer BC Member
Email: jczeiszperger@local40.org Phone: (586) 822-2264
  
Dina Carlisle RN-PACU: Local 40, MM Chief Steward BC Member
Email: dcarlisle@local40.org Phone: (586) 909-5400
  
Michele Meerschaert RN-FBC: BC Member
Email: michelemeer@comcast.net Phone: (586) 246-7191
  
  

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Action Center

NurseTogether.com
Empower. Encourage. Explore.
OPEIU Benefits
Death Benefit - AD&D Benefit - Towing - Scholarships
OPEIU Scholarships
Check out the scholarships offered by your International Union
OPEIU White Collar
Read the latest OPEIU White Collar Newsletter
-
RN Staff Council, OPEIU, Local 40, AFL-CIO, CLC
46819 Garfield Road
Macomb Township, Michigan 48044
  (586) 948-3861

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