Negotiations Continue, Management’s Proposals Disappoint
We met with Sharp management again this week to continue negotiating our new contract. We reached a tentative agreement (TA) on contract access which provides digital access to our contract on Sharp’s system. Unfortunately, we remain far apart on many important issues:
- Article 10 – Probation: Calls for managers to meet with new RNs on probation who may be having challenges or have not been properly onboarded. We explained how this has kept quality nurses from leaving the bedside and how this should be the norm, not the exception.
- Article 22 – Safety and Health: Proposes that management email and call RN(s) if they have been possibly exposed to a highly infectious disease. This new language is intended to ensure our and our loved ones’ protection. Also, Sharp will be required to train all nurses on the proper use of safety devices and provide all necessary PPE. The employer continues to push back on this topic.
- Article 4 – Patient Care Advocacy: Ensures that the nurse-to-patient ratios provided for under Title 22 are maintained even if the law changes.
Management presented the following proposals:
- Job posting: Management wants to change the current practice by suggesting that new job postings be published on Sharp’s website only and not posted on the units where we can see them.
- Seniority: The suggested changes would make it more difficult for our per diems to accrue seniority and further disadvantage them.
- Association Representation: Proposes significant restrictions on union representatives’ access to medical centers to provide representation to us.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have done so much to provide excellent patient care to our community. We deserve a contract that recognizes and respects our sacrifices and helps raise the standards of care.