Each collective bargaining contract between 1199 RNs and their employer addresses the specific needs of staff nurses in the institution where they work. The contract is the result of negotiations between staff nurses chosen by their colleagues from every unit, and their employer. The standard contract provides for:
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Job Security — no arbitrary layoffs of RNs with one year or more on the job; in addition, RN positions cannot be replaced with LPNs or technicians.
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Quality of Care and Working Conditions — language that restricts mandatory overtime, specifies and enforces nurse-patient ratios and sets guidelines for floating assignments. In order to enhance recruitment and retention, the RN Division conducts extended seminars that bring together staff nurses and their managers for leadership training, team scheduling, flextime surveys and other worklife improvement initiatives. An annual gala dinner honors outstanding staff nurses and managers.
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Wages & Differentials — among the highest starting salaries, and top additional pay for experience, certification, evening and night shifts, charge nurse and preceptor duties.
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Health Benefits — No co-payments, deductibles or out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, hospitalization, maternity, mental health, hospice, emergency, preventative or other inpatient and outpatient medical coverage.
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Pension Benefits — double pensions (your employer's and 1199 Pension Plan).
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Health & Safety — employer-provided training on paid worktime.
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Representation — speedy grievance and arbitration process to resolve disputes between RNs and employer; free legal aid from Union staff.
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Continuing Education — seminars that earn contact hours; costs of registration, certification fees and conference days are supplemented by a special fund for nurses. No out-of-pocket costs for mandatory courses, such as Child Abuse Reporting and Infection Control; certification courses in ACLS and PALS.
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Child Care Fund — pays for children of RNs to attend summer programs and pre-school programs.
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Immigrant RNs — foreign experience is counted towards experience differential; free legal aid on immigration problems; orientation programs that encourage retention and cover documentation, legal aspects of nursing, cultural diversity and better understanding of nursing practices in the U.S.
Beyond economic benefits, an 1199 RN contract gives the staff nurse an equal voice with management in determining quality of care issues. We sit together with managers in contractually created bodies such as Labor-Management Committees, Professional Practice Committees, Jobs Committees, Quality Performance and Improvement Programs. Our input on staffing ratios, patient rights and professional concerns goes a long way in advancing our roles as patient advocates. Moreover, monthly RN Councils bring together senior staff nurses from 1199 hospitals and nursing homes to exchange ideas on practice and workplace issues. 1199SEIU is also a member of the nationwide SEIU Nurse Alliance with 84,000 nurses.