On July 13, after four bargaining sessions we have reached an agreement on the restructure of the emergency department, acute care unit, intensive care unit, and family birth center. When Jefferson Healthcare Center (JHC) announced the restructure in April 2021, they planned on implementing monthly mandatory call shift for ED, FBC, ACU, ICU. Under the RN contract and Pro/Tech/Clinic contract, JHC has the ability to implement a restructure, but we have the ability to bargain over the effects of the restructure. Prior to going to the bargaining table, we heard the opposition to the restructure and that mandatory call shifts would force many to resign from JHC.
At the table, we tried to stop the restructure and told JHC that their mandatory call shifts would result in a mass exodus and that their cross-training plan was not well thought out. Unfortunately we were unable to stop the restructure. But after presenting our arguments and submitting many letters to management, we were able to win better conditions for the restructure. The restructure will begin August 1, 2021, but JHC’s restructure plan will be rolled out through several months.
Below is a summary of the agreement:
Training: All nurses will be cross-trained for three weeks, and may request an additional three weeks of training. ACU shall cross-train to ICU, ICU shall cross-train to ACU, ED shall cross-train to FBC, and FBC shall cross-train to ED. Nurses shall only be asked to perform basic nurse functions if they have not demonstrated competency in their secondary unit. Nurses may also communicate to the charge RN or supervisor about concerns if they do not feel safe performing tasks in their secondary unit.
Work Schedules: Employees will submit their preferred shift patterns to the scheduler before the schedule is drafted. The Employer will use reasonable efforts to honor the work schedule submitted. Employees shall be scheduled to their primary unit and will not be scheduled into their secondary unit.
Resource RN: A new position shall be created called the “Resource RN.” The Resource RN shall have competency in three out of the four departments (FBC, ED, ACU, ICU). They shall be scheduled to multiple units or just one unit during a shift. They will not be subject to low census and will receive a $4 differential for all hours worked.
On-Call: On-call shifts shall be voluntary. The Employer shall post an on-call shift schedule by the 20th of the month, two months prior to the month being scheduled.
Extra Shift Incentive: Until October 31, 2021, if an employee picks up a shift beyond their scheduled shifts after the final schedule is posted, the employee will be paid at time and one-half (1 1/2) for all hours worked on the extra shift, as long as the employee works the rest of their scheduled shifts that week. If an employee works an extra shift beyond their scheduled shifts that becomes open within 12 hours of the shift, the employee may be paid, at the employer’s discretion, at double (2x) for all hours worked on the extra shift, as long as the employee works the rest of their scheduled shifts that week.
Resignation: Any non-probationary employees who resign due to the restructure because they did not receive a comparable position as defined as a position with a change in shift (day, evening, or night), or an FTE change of less than .2, shall receive Employer-paid COBRA coverage through November 1, 2021. Also employees who have a sign-on bonus and did not receive a comparable position, shall not be penalized for resigning.
If you have any questions about the restructure agreement, please reach out to your union rep, Ryan DeGouveia 360-662-1989. Our next step is to prepare for regular contract negotiations. We have sent out bargaining surveys to each unit and are anticipating starting negotiations in early September. If you are interested in being part of contract negotiations, please contact Ryan.
