Sharp

Board of Registered Nursing is Restored

Governor Brown Vetoes Board of Nursing Renewal Bill — Write Your Legislators So We Can Get it Back ASAP

SPNN Nurses Ratify Contract With Strong Break Protections

Registered Nurses at Sharp HealthCare ratified their contract last night. The contract between United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals and Sharp covers 4,000 Registered Nurses at Chula Vista, Coronado, Grossmont, Mary Birch, Memorial and Mesa Vista hospitals; as well as non-hospital Sharp HealthCare nurses.

“Before this contract Sharp could and often did force Registered Nurses to work for ten hours without a meal break. We won ground breaking language that now requires… Read more

SPNN: We Have a New Contract!

The SPNN RN Bargaining Team is pleased to announce that our new contract has been approved by an overwhelming majority of 99%, after Sharp RNs turned out yesterday to vote.

Because Sharp RNs stepped up to be there for negotiations and take action in our hospitals, we won a huge victory: a real wage grid, which recognizes our experience as RNs.

At the Bargaining Table we could feel the strength of SPNN nurses standing with… Read more

SPNN Bargaining Team Reaches Agreement

At 11:45 PM on October 5, the SPNN RN Bargaining Team and Sharp management reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for 4,000 Registered Nurses at Chula Vista, Coronado, Grossmont, Mary Birch, Memorial, Mesa Vista, and non-hospital RNs.

The RN Bargaining Team wants to thank the RNs from all over the Sharp system who came to the bargaining sessions and spoke about their concerns. A special thanks to the Contract Support Committee members who… Read more

Join us at SPNN Bargaining Tuesday

Join us at bargaining today, Tuesday, October 4, starting at 9 AM. Hear for yourself what management is proposing.

Courtyard by Marriott
8651 Spectrum Center Blvd
San Diego, CA 92123.

Help spread the word inside the hospital about the status of our contract and sign people up to picket on October 11 and 12 at the Sharp Experience.

The attached fact sheet can be used to educate your colleagues about the status of… Read more

Be There Friday for Wage Talks

Click here to see the RN Wage Grids for several San Diego area hospitals, including Sharp’s latest proposal to the Union. Look carefully to see how Sharp compares to area hospitals.

Of critical importance: Sharp’s Wage Grid is NOT for current RNs; it is management’s proposal for NEW HIRE RNs. In addition, if you look carefully you will see that Sharp DECREASED their wage grid proposal between their first proposal on September 22 and their… Read more

Be There Friday for SPNN Wage Talks

Today management increased their wage proposal by 1/2%, but eliminated all anniversary increases from their proposal.

Come to bargaining this Friday at 12 noon to hear our RN Bargaining Team’s counter proposal:

Bargaining Friday, 12 Noon
Sheraton Four Points
8110 Aero Drive
San Diego, CA 92123

Management continues to refuse to provide a wage grid that values RNs’ years of experience. Instead, management has proposed newly hired RNs come in… Read more

Sharp’s Second Wage Proposal Worse Than First

That’s right, today at 6:30 PM, Sharp presented a “counter” wage proposal that is LESS money than their original proposal. Their proposal continues to allow for NEW HIRE RNs to be placed on a wage scale that pays more than current RNs and never provides us with recognition for our years of experience as an RN.

The RN Bargaining Team told management in response that they “need to go back to the drawing board” and… Read more

SPNN Bargaining Update: September 26, 2011

Today the RN Bargaining Team presented management with counter proposals on education, PTO, Hours of Work and Overtime, and compensation. After receiving the Union’s proposals management said they needed time to review and get back to the RN Team, but would not be ready until 1pm on Tuesday.
 
One issue that was raised, among the many issues, was management’s refusal to provide RNs with the same level of education benefits that Sharp… Read more

SPNN Bargaining Update: September 21, 2011

At Thursday’s RN bargaining session, management responded to the Union’s wage proposal. Management’s proposal fell far short of providing RNs with the recognition we have earned through our skills, experience and dedication to Sharp.

Compare for yourself:

How would your wages be affected?

This chart shows what you would earn during the contract if you are a 3, 10, or 20 year today:

BE AT BARGAINING…
At Thursday’s bargaining,… Read more

SPNN Bargaining Update: August 31, 2011

Can’t Miss Negotiations: Wages & Econ

SPNN will present our economic proposals, including wages, when bargaining resumes on Wednesday, September 21 at 9:30 AM.

Don’t miss it! Your presence can make all the difference.

Economic Negotiations
Wednesday, September 21
Sheraton Four Points
8110 Aero Drive
San Diego, CA 92123

Download a leaflet with this information to share with co-workers.

Make a Difference on Key Issues

On August 25 we… Read more

Be There for Wage Talks September 21!

At our next bargaining session, the RN bargaining committee will present our economic proposals. These can’t miss negotiations will cover:

• Wages
• Health care
• Education Benefits

Member support is key to winning the best possible contract. Be there to support your future:

Wednesday, September 21
Sheraton Four Points
8110 Aero Drive
San Diego, CA 92123

We have made progress, reaching Tentative Agreements on 10 Articles. Highlights include:
… Read more

UNAC/UHCP Volunteers Staff San Diego Health Fair For the United Domestic Workers of America

UNAC/UHCP Rallies in San Diego in Support of UFCW

SPNN Bargaining Update: August 19, 2011

Our bargaining team has reached tentative agreements on two more articles of the contract:

Article 2:  Courtesy
Article 7:  Association Representation

Our bargaining team did an excellent job on Article 7! They secured members’ rights to be represented in workers’ comp meetings at Sharp, and other meetings regarding return to work following an injury.

Your team continues to have important discussions on discipline, floating, meal and rest periods and job bidding. These topics will… Read more

Kaiser South Bay Stands Up for Local UFCW

Become a SPNN Member Today

With your active involvement, the Sharp Professional Nurses Network (SPNN) can continue to be a catalyst to improve the lives of our patients and our members. SPNN dues pay for United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) to represent us in contract negotiations and to enforce the collective bargaining agreement.

UNAC/UHCP is over 20,000 Registered Nurses and health care professionals who have come together to benefit not only ourselves and our… Read more

SPNN Contract Campaign Kick-off Training Sessions Held in May

The first training sessions for this year’s contract negotiations were a huge success!  Registered Nurses throughout the Sharp facilities attended to discuss their experiences and give their input on what they would like to see at negotiations.

SPNN Officers, RNAC members and Contract Support Team (CST) members discussed SPNN history, the negotiation process and the importance of member involvement.  As of early July, more than 90 SPNN members have joined the CST. If you would… Read more

You’re Invited

As a Sharp Registered Nurse, you are always invited to attend the SPNN Executive meeting held at the UNAC/UHCP San Diego office on the second Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m.  Supper is provided.

Your Contract Support Team

The following are SPNN activists who have been specially trained to assist Sharp RNs throughout the contract negotiation process.  Feel free to approach them with questions or comments.

Sharp Chula Vista Hospital

Miguela Alonzo, ACC
Cynthia Cohen, IMCU-DOU 2 (5E)
Ruby Escalada-Lacson, MICU
Amanda Galsim, ACC
Christina Kelley, MICU
Donna Lewis, OR
Annie Lopez-Liban, L&D
Monique McBride, ACC
Kay O’Malley, MICU
Sandra Powers, 4E-ONCOLOGY
Maria… Read more

SPNN Veteran Celebrated as Employee of the Month

Carole DeVito, SPNN Co-Chair at Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus, was named one of Sharp‘s Employees of the Month for March/April 2011. DeVito, who has been a nurse for 26 years, is a member of the Registered Nursing Advisory Committee (RNAC). She takes her responsibilities there very seriously, as is befitting of an Employee of the Month.

Carole acts as an ambassador for RNAC and UNAC/UHCP, living up to the ideal of transparency by reporting back… Read more

SPNN Everyday Leader – Inese Redondo, RN

“Nurses were treated like children before the union. Now we’re treated with respect, we have a voice in what goes on in our workplace and in how patients are treated.”

The union saved our hospital. Sharp said we were losing money and tried to sell the hospital to a for-profit chain. We organized community groups and arranged for people from Washington to testify on our behalf at hearings. When a community gets organized, justice can… Read more

UNAC/UHCP Members Join Insurance Commissioner for Health Talk

Get the Latest News

In the last year, UNAC/UHCP has emailed out critical information to members about contract negotiations, license notices, and health care benefits. Don’t be left out because we don’t have your email address. Send us your email address at publicaffairs@unac-ca.org along with your name and your affiliate.

Take Charge: Registered Nurse Advisory Committee (RNAC)

RNAC – Registered Nurse Advisory Committee
Contract Language: Article IV, Section 406-409, Page 7-10

Each of our facilities have a separate local RNAC Committee including non-hospital groups, i.e. Hospice, Home Health, SRN, Nurse Connection and SDHA.

Each local facility-based committee is composed of three Registered Nurses representing the Sharp Professional Nurses Network and three members of nursing management.  The committees meet on a monthly basis.

The purpose of the committee is to provide… Read more

UNAC/UHCP Retiree Council Plans Next Steps

Take Charge: Meal & Rest Periods

MEAL PERIODS
Contract Language: Article XIV, Section 1413, Page 30

• Each employee shall receive meal periods in accordance with State and Federal law.
• Unpaid, unworked meal periods shall not be counted as hours worked in calculating overtime to be paid under any provision of this agreement.
• Should a nurse anticipate the inability to take a meal break, she/he shall make all reasonable efforts to notify the responsible management representative, charge nurse, lead… Read more

Take Charge: Family Medical Leave & California Family Sick Time

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Federal & State law allows for the right to a protected leave to care for a family member/self with a serious or chronic medical health condition.

The Federal law is referred to as FMLA

Your rights under FMLA:

1. Employer may not fire you for taking up to 12 weeks of leave.
2. Employer must give you back the same or equivalent job after your leave.
3. Employer must continue to pay… Read more

UNAC/UHCP Volunteers Invade Children’s Camp

The Laurel Foundation, otherwise known as Camp Laurel, provides relief to families and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Daria Smith, staff representative at Kaiser Fontana, has given up many of her annual vacations to work on this project. She has watched children she cared for in camp grow up and become camp counselors themselves. Through Daria, UNAC/UHCP learned about Camp Laurel and began recruiting members to volunteer.

This year, UNAC/UHCP members Priscilla Simmons (Kaiser Ontario), Estela… Read more

UNAC/UHCP Members Rally in Sacramento

United Nurses Partner with Labor Council for Holiday Toy and Food Drive

San Diego, CA – The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) is partnering with the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and other local affiliate unions for the Labor Council’s annual holiday food and toy drive. The food and toys are collected from Labor Council affiliates and distributed to union families in need during the holiday season.

UNAC/UHCP will be collecting new, unwrapped toys, canned food and dry goods at… Read more

Union in Brief – Jul/Aug’10 Voice

Chino Valley NLRB Hearing – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) hearing to address Prime Health Services’ objections to our election victory was completed on June 7. Both sides submitted written legal briefs on June 21 and we expect a Board ruling could be issued in late July or early August. In the meantime, we have filed more than a dozen Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against the company, as they have continued their aggressive… Read more

Sharp Nurses Agree to New Contract – May/Jun’10 Voice

Sharp Professional Nurses Network (SPNN) members overwhelmingly approved a new 15-month agreement on April 30. The new agreement only modifies a few contractual terms. “With the economy still climbing out of recession, we believed limiting our scope of bargaining to a few topics, like fair wage increases and a relatively short agreement duration, was the right thing to do,” says SPNN President Chris McGovern, RN. “Our plan is to readdress the contract late next year… Read more

Sharp Nurses Agree to 15 Month Contract – May 1, 2010

Sharp Professional Nurses Network (SPNN) members overwhelmingly voted to accept a new 15-month agreement on April 30, moving away from their mid-summer expiration date. The new agreement runs from July 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011.

The new agreement only modifies a few contractual terms. “With the economy still climbing out of recession, we believed limiting our scope of bargaining to a few topics, like fair wage increases and a relatively short agreement duration, was… Read more

Sharp Nurses Agree to 15 Month Contract – May 1, 2010

Sharp Professional Nurses Network (SPNN) members overwhelmingly voted to accept a new 15-month agreement on April 30, moving away from their mid-summer expiration date. The new agreement runs from July 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011.

The new agreement only modifies a few contractual terms. “With the economy still climbing out of recession, we believed limiting our scope of bargaining to a few topics, like fair wage increases and a relatively short agreement duration, was… Read more

To The Point – January – March 2010

The Sharp Professional Nurses Network (SPNN), in conjunction with UNAC/UHCP, has developed a brand new newsletter to inform SPNN members about affiliate activities and to highlight the achievements of individual members and the Union. We hope you enjoy our new streamlined design. To view the SPNN newsletter, get information regarding your professional job and find out what we are doing as a Union, please click here.

2010 Union Dues – Jan/Feb’10 Voice

Your union dues support UNAC/UHCP’s efforts to strengthen the voices of health care professionals. Dues, established by the UNAC/UHCP Constitution, are based on the wage rates at each affiliate. As wage rates increase, dues go up proportionally.

For 2010, dues for full-time and part-time RNs, NPs, and PAs at Kaiser Permanente will be $47.74 per pay period, effective the pay period ending January 2, 2010. For Per Diems in these job categories, dues will be… Read more

A Victory for Nurses’ Rights at Sharp

UNAC/UHCP members at Sharp HealthCare in San Diego have won a significant victory. An arbitrator on December 17 ruled that Sharp is required to allow a union representative to attend meetings and represent bargaining unit members in those meetings with the employer when members are seeking accommodation because of their medical or physical limitations, and when the union member requests union attendance.

The arbitrator said that Sharp violates the union contract when it refuses to… Read more

SPNN Members Launch Quality Liaison Initiative

As part of their hard-won contract this summer, members of the Sharp Professional Nurses Network negotiated a new quality initiative giving health care workers a bigger voice in patient care. The quality liaison program will involve nurses in identifying and resolving concerns about the quality of patient care. The quality liaisons will work with fellow union members and activists, as well as staff representatives, to tackle issues such as staffing ratios and meals and breaks.… Read more

SPNN Members Launch Quality Liaison Initiative – January 2, 2008

As part of their hard-won contract this summer, members of the Sharp Professional Nurses Network negotiated a new quality initiative giving health care workers a bigger voice in patient care. The quality liaison program will involve nurses in identifying and resolving concerns about the quality of patient care. The quality liaisons will work with fellow union members and activists, as well as staff representatives, to tackle issues such as staffing ratios and meals and breaks.… Read more