home | on the job

”Bargaining Update”August 25, 2005

We the nurses and medical professionals have been ready and eager to negotiate a contract that is fair to our members and fair to Jackson's financial needs.

However; the non-economic proposals we have received thus far from management are not going to help Jackson's financial difficulties- they are only designed to remove basic union protections and destroy morale.

LET'S STOP THE ANTI-UNION CAMPAIGN AND NEGOTIATE A FAIR CONTRACT!

LET'S GET TO THE REAL ISSUES AND WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE AT JACKSON!

JOIN YOUR BARGAINING TEAM ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31st

Hopefully we may see some economic proposals from management at this session.
8;30 AM -12;30 PM & 2;00 PM - 4;00 PM'
DTC 270
Breakfast and snacks will be served

SEIU Local1991 President Asks Miami-Dade Commission to Change Finding Formula for JMH

With the very visible support of over 30 RNs and other health care professionals, Martha Baker, RN made a citizen's presentation to the Miami Dade Commission Committee that oversees JMH on August 17th. The local owes a sincere thank you to each member who found a way to come to the chambers and sit through a long and often confusing hearing. The turnout was a positive first step in a political campaign that will be key to success in our contract campaign and to the future of our hospital and the patients it serves.

The thrust of our campaign is to win adequate funding for JMH; Martha traced the history of JMH county funding through the passing of the 1/2 cent tax down to today and showed how the county had in reality slipped far behind its pledge to continue the pre-tax level of county funding so that the surtax money would be an additional investment in JMH, not simply a replacement which would allow-the county to spend money elsewhere.

Overpaying Workforce NOT the Source of JMH Financial Problems

Martha made it clear that, counter to what commissioners have heard from management, JMH financial problems do not stem from an overpaid workforce. She showed the decline of county contribution from 80% of the pretax level to today's low of 37%. This real decline was accomplished by transferring new financial burdens to JMH, which meant less was left for hospital operations. Martha urged the commission to take advantage of the county's record revenue year to re-assume responsibility for the programs shifted to JMH to bring the effort back to the 80% level. This would mean shifting approximately 73 million dollars to the funding of JMH. The chair, Rebeca Sosa. thanked Martha and the other members present for bringing the information forward and instructed the county manager's office to review the numbers to see if the commission could find a way to address the issues Martha raised. Commissioner Seijas added that if the changes Martha advocated for could not be achieved all at once, she wanted to know how they might be phased within a definite period - perhaps no more than 3 years.

The Proposal to purchase land for Jackson South patient tower sailed through without opposition. The Health Care Task force to address problems of health care for the uninsured was forwarded-without any vote on the merit to the full Commission.

Next Steps

          This is a huge step forward. The County Commission will be key in resolving our contract and helping us engineer a long term solution for JMH.   The County will decide on a budget in September and we may be able to make a big difference. 

• Each member who lives in Miami Dade fro whom we have email should be receiving a communication within a week that will tell you who your commissioner is and allow you to send a fax or email to him or her with a click of the mouse.
• We will be setting meetings with each commissioner in the near future and want them to meet members who are from their district.
• We will be monitoring Commission meetings, specially those impacting JMH budget and potentially our contract.

SAVE THE DATE

The Committee on Political Education (COPE)
will be meeting on
September 14 at JMH
at 3:30-5 and again from 6-8
Location to be announced.

And

Saturday, October 15
7:30am at Bay Front Park
Join us for the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation:
RACE FOR THE CURE, 5K Walk/Run
More information to follow.