CRONA
Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement
Area Representatives and Membership Meetings
January 5 and 7, 2010

Negotiations 2010

Preparing for contract negotiations started long before the contract expires in March 2010. The Negotiation Committees for SHC and LPCH have been gathering information, talking to nurses, taking surveys and identifying contract issues throughout 2009. Our Committees draw on nurses from both hospitals and work closely with our legal advisors who assist us in preparation for negotiations.

We are very grateful that so many CRONA nurses took the time to thoughtfully respond to the survey we distributed- far more participation than typical surveys. We have deeply studied the results of the negotiation survey. The priority issues identified by our members are:

• Improve and include the current medical retiree benefit plan in the contract so that nurses can count on it.

• Improve the retirement plan so that it is a meaningful source of retirement income.

• Keep wages at parity with the advanced nursing skills required at our hospital.

• Adequate support staff (NA, sitters, transport, clerks) so that the needs of patients that are not reflected in the staffing grids and acuity system are adequately met.

• Mutual development of job descriptions and performance evaluations.

• Staff involvement in developing/revising staffing matrices, mutual development of policies and procedures.

• Prevent hospitals from lowering pay by assuring applicable shift differentials are paid for PTO/ATO cash out.

• Decrease and standardize (for both hospitals) the number of years required to go to Step 8 in the wage scale.

• Recognize service by adding a longevity step for 25-year employees.

• Stop union busting efforts by the hospitals to use non-CRONA nurses to perform CRONA work.

• Take concrete steps to improve nurse/patient health, welfare and safety and other health/welfare/safety issues.

The Committees are currently discussing these issues with nurses throughout the hospitals to help us in prioritizing them.

Both hospitals are taking a very aggressive approach going into negotiations. When CRONA went on strike in 2000, the hospitals flew nurses in from around the country at great expense to try and break our strike. They were willing to relax hospital standards by using nurses without comparable experience to a CRONA nurse. Many of these nurses who filled senior positions would not qualify as a SN III or IV on an entry application.

CRONA gave written notice to both hospitals of our desire to start negotiations in January (since our contracts expire March 31, 2010). The hospitals gave notice to CRONA that they are putting contingency (strike breaking) plans in place even before receiving CRONA’s notice.

We hope that the hospitals will commit their time, energy, personnel and financial resources in reaching an agreement with CRONA.

CRONA believes that nurses and the hospitals gain by taking a “win-win” attitude. We will negotiate in that spirit. However, the hospital’s early actions are not in the same spirit, so nurses need to be prepared to stand up for their rights.

Accordingly, we would like to advise the CRONA membership to update their personnel and employee health records. It is necessary for each nurse to have a copy of their current RN licensure, ACLS, PALS, BLS, NRP, TB test, and other blood titers that other employers may require. We suggest that you obtain a copy of your recent employee health tests from Occupational Health (satellite office or at Welch Road). The number for Occupational Health is 650-723-5922. You will also need to complete an “Authorization for Disclosure of Health Information” release form. The form is available from Occupational Health. Mention that you need test results on your most recent TB testing, chest X-ray, Quantiferon, Hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella titers. You will need to show your ID badge in order to obtain a copy of your record, or you can have a personal representative pick up the results, or OH can mail the information to your home.

You can also fax the release form “Authorization for Disclosure of Health Information” to 650-498-7748. Again, mention the name of the test results you need. Requests submitted by email or phone will not be accepted. Please note that these actions are only precautionary steps. You should not interpret this advice as taking anything at all from CRONA’s full commitment to reaching an agreement prior to the contract expiration of March 31, 2010.

Negotiation Dates
The first day of negotiations with the hospitals is January 25, 2010. CRONA is determined to make these negotiations successful. We will utilize all the days that we have to reach an agreement that will best serve our membership and ultimately our patients.

Negotiation Rooms
As in 2007, the hospitals want CRONA to share the cost of using a fancy outside conference facility for conducting negotiations at a location that is convenient to them. The hospital claims that they “have looked across the hospital and university properties including the North Campus, Page Mill and School of Medicine for appropriate bargaining accommodations, without success.” We want to assure the membership that we are looking at cost-effective meeting locations, including churches.

Negotiating Teams
Although we are conducting joint negotiations with SHC and LPCH, there is only one legal team on each side. The Legal Counsel for CRONA is Peter Nussbaum. The Legal Counsel for the hospitals is Larry Arnold. The members of the Negotiating Teams are:

CRONA

• Lorie Johnson, President
• Bonnie Balfour, Exec. VP
• Colleen Borges, LPCH VP

LPCH Team

• Sunny Balson, L&D
• Fred Taleghani, Peds Transport
• Mary Tweedy, PACU
• Mary Balistreiri, Clinics
• Joan Cooper, Float Pool

SHC Team

• John Green, Float Pool
• Ann Inman, OR
• Ceci Kettendorf, EICU
• Marivi Verbo, OR
• Michele Wahl, OR

Hospitals (to date)

• Laurie Quintel Dir. Employee/Labor Relations
• Joan Forte, Adm. Director, SHC
• Joanne Fioravanti, Adm. Director, LPCH

LPCH Team

• Alice Mark, Manager, SCN Washington
• Bev Schuler, Manager, Periop Region, LPCH

Stay Informed
During the months of February and March 2010, we need you to stay informed. Please give your Area Representatives your home email addresses. We will be communicating directly with you through your home email. We will not use the hospital email and you should not check home email at work under any circumstance. If you have not received an email from CRONA through your home email the past three (3) months, it means we do not have your home email address. In addition, please log on to www.crona.org at least once a week. You can also call the CRONA office at 650-366-0156 or email crona@crona.org. If you have any questions, please contact CRONA.

The success of our negotiations greatly depends on you and your participation.

Thank You for Advocating For Nurses and Ultimately Our Patients!

Sincerely,
Lorie Johnson, President
CRONA
On behalf of the CRONA Executive Board and the Negotiation Committees