National Nurses United

NewsBriefs:2 7/22/09 10:25 PM Page 9 WRAP-UP REPORT Chicago RNs with the Cook County Bureau of Health Services, along with other single-payer activists, rallied on June 2 outside the headquarters of CIGNA in support of singlepayer healthcare. CHICAGO RNS: ILLINOIS MEDIA PROGRESSIVES Arizona on june 30, Arizonans across the state showed their unity in support of a single-payer healthcare plan—the only solution that guarantees quality healthcare for every American. Various groups that support HR 676, the federal bill for single-payer sponsored by Michigan Congressman John Conyers, held a mega conference Phoenix. On May 30, RNs, doctors, and community supporters also gathered in front of U.S. Rep. Henry Mitchell's Scotts dale office to send the message that single-payer is the only solution for the current healthcare crisis. Also in May, RNs attended a presentation of different healthcare reform positions and found that about 60 percent of the 750 attendees supported a single-payer system. Illinois rns with the Cook County Bureau of Health Services in Chicago attended in June a special conference of CNA/NNOC RNs working at public-sector facilities. Nurses discussed the overall challenges facing public health systems and hospitals, from massive state and county budget cuts to layoffs to overcrowding and increase in patient acuity due to people losing their jobs and health insurance due to the recession. "This was an important meeting because we got an opportunity to discuss the struggles we have in Cook County," said Brenda Langford, RN and member of the CNA/NNOC board of director. "We found our challenges are similar to those of our colleagues all over the country who are providing care to American's uninsured population. We are looking forward to next steps." JUNE 2009 Maine the maine state Nurses Association and Mount Desert Island Hospital reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract with significant economic gains and strong patient advocacy language. Nurses, who are members of MSNA/ NNOC, negotiated a 10 percent increase over the three year term in addition to increased steps and differentials. Parental bonding language was also negotiated, which en hances current maternity and paternity leave standards. Nurses won the formation of a professional practice committee, which will act as a powerful voice for nurses with a clear focus on issues regarding their day-to-day clinical practice. Also negotiated was language giving nurses a voice in all new technology at the hospital that affects patient care. "We entered collective bargaining with one, firm underlying purpose, which was to protect and enhance the quality of patient care in our hospital," said Catherine Bunker, an RN who helped negotiate the contract and is president at her facility. "We believe that this contract agreement fulfills that purpose by achieving a greater voice for nurses in those decisions which affect patient care, improving the work environment, and ensuring adequate economic compensation to our nurse membership." Ohio ohio nurses are experiencing worsening staffing and economic cuts by the hospital industry. Most hospitals are using claims of financial loss due to the recession as an excuse to freeze wages, cut benefits, and send RNs and other hospital works home on "low census days." RNs must use their paid time off on these days, which are essentially wage and benefit cuts. W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G In addition, the hospital industry's legislation passed last year to prevent mandatory RN-to-patient ratios has proven toothless. Staffing committees in some hospitals made staffing plans, with little input from directcare RNs. But the hospitals are even throwing these plans out, with the excuse that the recession is forcing them to cut nursing costs. Meanwhile, CNA/NNOC Ohio activists are focusing on passing two new federal bills: the mandatory RN-to-patient ratio legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, and the nurse and health worker injury protection bill sponsored by Congressman John Conyers. Nurses are circulating a petition in their facilities in support of these bills, and then plan on making legislative visits across Ohio to our members of Congress to win their support for these important new legislative initiatives. Texas nurse activist leaders representing CNA/NNOC Texas metropolitan councils convened in Austin, Texas on June 17 for a day-long statewide meeting featuring re ports from each committee and presentations by CNA/NNOC staff. Metro committee report highlights in cluded legislative work on behalf of the Texas Hospital Patient Protection Act, HB 1489, traveling to Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress on ratios, rights, and representation, and partnering with healthcare allies on single-payer reform. RNs agreed to take the lead in their re spective facilities by demanding that hospital management follow state law in regards to SB 476, the weak alternative bill to real RNto-patient ratios that the Texas Nurses Association passed in collaboration with the Texas Hospital Association. Despite the law's inadequacies, nurses will participate and monitor the process to ensure these staffing committees are composed of 60 percent bedside RNs selected by their peers. —staff report

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