National Nurses United

NewsBriefs_OCT 11/29/11 10:11 PM Page 7 University of Michigan RNs Win New Contract T MICHIGAN he 4,000 registered nurses at the University of Michigan Hospital, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, cast a resounding vote in early November to ratify a new three-year contract. The contract offers nurses wages and benefits that are among the best in the marketplace, as well as a continued commitment to support the delivery of the highest quality care. "We felt the university was trying to take advantage of the economic times and attempting to roll back improvements we have won over many years through our MNA contract," said Katie Oppenheim, RN, president of the local bargaining unit. "The credit goes to our members. Our nurses came together to stand up for what they believed. It was the strength and unity of our union that has allowed us to push forward to such a successful settlement. This is a win for all parties, and the biggest winners will be our patients." The nurses had been working without a contract since July 1, and had staged a number of massive pickets to put pressure on the university and rally nurses and the community. The contract provides for new provisions that will give nurses a significant voice in areas such as staffing, nursing practice, and the use of technology. As one example, under the terms of the new agreement, charge nurses will have a say in determining Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation Publication title: National Nurse. Publication number: USPS 0807-560, ISSN 2153-0386. Filing date: 9-28-2011. Issue frequency: Monthly except for combined issues in January-February and July-August. Number of issues published annually: 10. Annual subscription price: $40. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 2000 Franklin St., Oakland, Alameda County, California, 94612-2908. Contact person: Lucia Hwang. Telephone: (510) 273-2200. Complete mailing addresses of headquarters or general business office of publisher: Same as above. Publisher: California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, 2000 Franklin St., Oakland, California, 94612. Editor: Lucia Hwang. Managing editor: None. Owner: California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, 2000 Franklin St., Oakland, California, 94612. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount: none. Tax status: Has not changed during preceding 12 months. Publication title: National Nurse. Issue date for circulation data below: July-August 2011. Extent and nature of circulation: Registered nurse members of CNA/NNU and subscribers. For the following, the first number represents the average number of copies of each issue during preceding 12 months and the second number represents the number of copies of the single issue published nearest to filing date. Total number of copies (net press run): 146,000; 148,000. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541: 144,229; 146,667. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541: 0; 0. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales, and other paid distribution outside USPS: 0; 0. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 81, 81. Total paid distribution: 144,310; 146,748. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 33; 39. Free or nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 0; 0. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0; 0. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 0; 0. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 33; 39. Total distribution: 144,343; 146,787. Copies not distributed: 1,657; 1,213. Total: 146,000; 148,000. Percent paid: 99.98%; 99.97%. Information in this statement will be published in the October 2011 issue of this publication. whether more staffing is needed to meet the specific needs of patients. The contract also provides for step increases and across-the-board wage increases, which will result in many nurses seeing increases of $5 to $10 an hour by the last year of the contract. The agreement also made some improvements to the health insurance package negotiated throughout the university for all other employee groups while preserving important rights and benefits the hospital wanted to take away from nurses. "We owe a great deal of thanks to the Ann Arbor community members that rallied with us during the long negotiations," said John Karebian, MNA executive director. "Their support was key to a fair settlement. When we started this process we knew the community appreciated the care nurses provide, but as time went on, it was very heartening to have the level of support that we did. The work of our members and community clearly made a difference at the bargaining table." Nurses in Michigan were also busy this fall taking the Main Street Contract for the American People to the public with a rally and march to Congressman David Camp's office in Midland. Weeks before the nurses visited Camp's office, nurses sent him a letter requesting the answer to a simple question: "Are you for Wall Street or for Main Street?" Receiving no reply, nurses who were attending the Michigan Nurses Association convention suited up in red ponchos and headed out on Sept. 30 into a cold, windy, and rainy Michigan morning. More than 100 nurses rallied in a nearby park, then marched several blocks to pack Camp's office and demand an answer to their question. Camp was not present, but his aides assured nurses that "he would get back with them shortly." Weeks have gone by and still no answer, but Michigan nurses will continue to press him for one. All nurses should care about how Camp responds. As chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means and a member of the congressional debt-reduction "super committee," Camp holds a position of unlimited resources in determining what gets cut and what gets taxed. Camp, however, is a primary target for lobbyists with fat checkbooks. Prior to Camp's position as chairman, lobbyists had been courting both Camp and his aides, jockeying for power, writing checks, and holding fundraisers. —Ann Kettering Sincox O C TO B E R 2 0 1 1 W W W. N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N AT I O N A L N U R S E 7

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