MOU Updates, March PCC Minutes
Here’s What’s Been Happening!
We Proposed an MOU Asking for a 10% Base Wage Increase.
We’ve heard your concerns, and we want to let you know that we’ve been using your letters, emails, and SBARs to express them to Providence leadership. We proposed a 10% increase in base wage to help buffer the ever-rising cost of living in Missoula.
We got a hard “no” from administration.
We will continue to keep advocating on your behalf, but we need you to keep up the awesome effort. When you have a concern, let us know. Should you feel motivated to send Beth (our CNO) or Joyce (our CEO) an email with your concerns, CC us! We are only as strong as you make us. Unions are all about collective voice.
MOUs for Shift Extension and Shift Pickup Have Been Extended Until 4/23/22.
As a reminder, an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is a temporary alteration or addition to our current contract’s language.
We Signed an MOU for a “Helper Nurse” Role through 4/23/22.
We agreed to another MOU to help future responses to inpatient census surges and short staffing. This role is called a “Helper Nurse,” and is different from the rover shifts you have seen thus far. A lot of nurses from specialty units have voiced concerns about feeling unprepared to help on inpatient floors, so we have created an opportunity for training that is paid.
Here is a short description of the helper nurse role.
Helper Nurses identify their own list of skills and tasks they are competent to perform, and will not be required to work outside of their training and/or comfort zones.
Here is the link for the Helper Nurse MOU.
In short, the MOU offers a $200 lump sum to attend a one-time orientation class and in-unit orientation to help clarify expectations and provide training for this role.
MOUs in Negotiation
We are currently negotiating a significant night shift retention bonus that we are hoping to bring to you soon. We are working out some kinks; the current proposal is bouncing back and forth between us and Providence’s attorneys.
March PCC Minutes
Assignment Despite Objection (ADOs)
There were no ADOs at this month’s meeting. Not a single one!
A Reminder for ADOs:
ADOs are not meant to just tally short staffing needs. You must verbally object to your assignment if you feel it is unsafe. We are keeping track of short staffing separately.
Please reach out to your Charge RN, Manager, and House Supervisor about your objection. If your assignment remains unchanged, notify them of your intent to file an ADO.
We have a flyer about ADOs on your unit’s MNA board, it is also available on our website under the documents page.
If you have an ADO, please plan on attending the next Professional Conference Committee (PCC), which is the 2nd Weds of every month @ 0730. It is really important you show up and speak to your ADO form, otherwise your manager does it for you.
Please reach out to your Unit Rep as well, they can help guide you through the process!
NBMI SBAR
The centerpiece for this PCC meeting concerned caregiver safety and staffing issues at NBMI. Our fellow RNs at NBMI have been working severely short staffed; in some cases, only 1 RN has been working at night. Caregiver injuries due to patient assaults have occurred. The NBMI/AIU unit representatives came forward to leadership with an SBAR with concerns, and their management is currently working to make sure that this is a never-event.
Town Hall Meetings
We are now aiming to schedule town hall meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, ideally with two different meeting times. We want to be able to check in with you and find out what’s important to the membership. There is no true agenda, these are informal.
The links for these meetings will always be posted to our website.
Here is the town hall info for this month:
Wednesday, March 16th, @ 0800.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://aft.zoom.us/j/99793975992?pwd=RkcwV21FdmJsMUF5cFcwci9TaFRDUT09
Meeting ID: 997 9397 5992
Passcode: 616089
Wednesday, March 16th, @ 1300.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://aft.zoom.us/j/96810537897?pwd=OW1TUC9OU1lTR1hERzN1ZnIxMnMxZz09
Meeting ID: 968 1053 7897
Passcode: 920527
*We may add an evening meeting depending on officer availability. Stay tuned.
Please continue to reach out to us if you need anything. We’re here for you. Thank you for continuing to speak up to administration and letting them know your concerns.
In solidarity,
Leslie, Rachel, Jeff, Casey, Tyler, and Alyshia
