November 5, 2019

Learn the Latest

​Welcome 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:

• The Nursing Excellence Council had a special meeting October 18th to discuss what the next PAS program will look like. More details to come soon!
• Magnet will require a program for Peer Review in the future. Simplicity of reporting peer review (teaching) is currently be worked on. The Committee hopes that it will be ready to roll out in late Winter.
• We walked the picket line with striking GM workers in UAW Local 652 as well as dropped off supplies.

Keep reading to learn more about the ways we have been forging ties with our union siblings throughout Lansing.  Read more from Terry here!

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:

• 44% paying the staffing concerns fine
• 21% worked short due to ill calls
• 11% were resolved
• 9% no shortage but staff perceived a shortage
• 13% due to 1:1 issues
• 2% were filed inappropriately

Ninety-seven concerns paid the bonus fine (see Article 62.2 for bonus payment trigger). There are 100 concerns filed (2018-2019) that have been held by management due to ill floats. This has not been a qualifier in the past and was a withdrawn proposal from the Employer during the 2017 negotiations. We are currently in mediation to resolve this issue along with the Non-Appendix A concerns that have been held as well. As the Staffing Concerns Committee Co-Chair, I will continue to evaluate your concerns, monitor for trends, advocate for appropriate staffing and collect data so that we can provide safe patient care every shift, every day.  Read more from Tammy here!

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!