Learn the LatestWelcome to the Quarterly Newsletter of the Professional Employees Council of Sparrow Hospital! In this edition, you will find updates from all of your elected officers:
Tina's Takeaways - News from the President talking about how to build our union's strengths, the ways we're collaborating with the administration, and more. In the past few months as your president, I have met many news faces of membership and leadership. Our union has been hard at work advocating for our patients and our profession. We have been growing our membership, building collaborative ties with the administration, showing our solidarity with our union siblings across the state, advocating for patients at the Capitol in Lansing, and more! Read more from Tina here. Tidbits from Terry - A letter from the Vice President discussing PAS, Magnet status, and building solidarity! Our union has been busy in the past few months. Here are a few highlights:
Tammy's Treasure Trove - A report from the Treasurer about the processing of our staffing concerns and the distribution of staffing concern fines. Staffing Concerns The Staffing Subcommittee continues to meet in order to review staffing concerns. Year-to-date 1003 concerns have been filed. This is almost 50% less than last year (2204 filed) thanks to Sparrow Leadership posting and hiring staff. As of 9/4/19, 727 concerns have been evaluated with:
Katie's Korner - A dispatch from the Secretary/Communications Chair highlighting the ratified changes to MNA's bylaws, best practices for our Facebook group, and giving a shoutout to an award winning PECSH member. The annual MNA House of Delegates convened at the beginning of the month. PECSH/MNA sent sixteen elected Delegates along with three board members. You can see the ratified changes to the MNA Bylaws by visiting MemberLink and going to the “My MNA” tab. One of the largest changes is the allocation of Delegates to local LBUs. As our organization grows, our delegation should as well. If you’re interested in getting involved at the state level, this is a great place to start! Consider running for a Delegate position in the Spring of 2020! We’re also always looking for members to serve on various committees and councils. If interested, download and submit your “Bio & Consent” to the MNA office by November 8 for consideration by the Board. Read more from Katie here! Jackie's Journal - A warm welcome to our new Health Professional Representative, Ms. Jackie Walker. Meet PECSH's New Health Professional Representative We’d like to introduce you to our new Health Professional Representative, Ms. Jackie Walker. Jackie steps into the role a veteran, having held this position once before in the 1990s. She is a proud PECSH/MNA Clinical Laboratory Scientist, having worked at Sparrow for 34 years! Along with serving as a Grievance Representative over the years, she has also successfully negotiated contracts on behalf of PECSH/MNA in 2001 and 2004. She bleeds green & white as a proud MSU alumna – only so long as they’re winning 😊. Jackie is a diehard Detroit Lions fan, believing every year that her beloved Lions will make a Super Bowl appearance. She’s excited to serve you all again in this role! She’ll be putting together a Health Professional committee with the intent of meeting quarterly to discuss issues surrounding our health professionals. She can be contacted at walkerj7506@att.net or by phone at 517-896-1010 (she prefers you call and not text). Jessica's Justice - The Grievance Chair shares an update and gets us ready for upcoming contract negotiations. We have noticed a significant decrease in the number of disciplines being issued over the past 3 months. It appears as if management is doing more counseling in the moment verses issuing levels of discipline. We have also appointed 17 additional grievance representatives so that resources are available when needed. Be sure to always remember your Weingarten Rights! Read more from Jessica here!
Attached you will find the decision from the MNA Hearing Officers regarding the charges brought against PECSH Vice President, Mike Severino, for failure to follow PECSH Bylaws and Guidelines & Procedures.
The time has come again for our Professional Employee Council as Sparrow Hospital - PECSH elections. This next cycle of elected positions is an important one. Please take the time to either consider putting your name forward or encouraging other strong leaders to step up for one of the openings.
At the end of last year, Sparrow executives made the devastating decision to reduce the IV Specialty Department and eliminate the Critical Care Transport Team. Members of PECSH-MNA courageously spoke out in the media and made the six o'clock news to highlight the dangers behind prioritizing the
bottom-line over patient care.
MEMBERS Improve Staffing and Push for Action Plans
As union members, we are taking unprecedented steps to push for safe staffing. At our insistence, the administration has restructured the position approval process and replacement positions are now being posted in record time. |
