New Contract Language: Outsourcing, Closing, or Selling Parts of UMass Memorial

In the last contract negotiations, we added a section about contracting out and selling off parts of UMass Memorial. With the recent sale of Home Health and the Outreach part of Anatomic Pathology, it seemed really important to come to an understanding about this trend. Here's what the contract now says:

SHARE and UMass Memorial agree that we will do everything possible to avoid layoffs from outsourcing, closing, contracting out or selling parts of UMass Memorial. 

When UMass Memorial considers outsourcing, closing, or selling a part of the hospital that would result in job loss or changes for SHARE members, SHARE will be notified as early in the decision-making process as is reasonable under the circumstances. The employer and the union will meet to determine if it can be avoided. Alternative proposals from SHARE for restructuring the work, or other ways to resolve the problem, will be given serious consideration.  

If, after discussion, UMass Memorial concludes that it is still necessary to outsource, close, or sell part of the hospital, SHARE members will become work-security candidates, with access to the full work security program (see “Layoffs and Work Security”).  

In the event that a SHARE member’s position is reopened within the UMass Memorial system after contracting out, closing, or sale, the SHARE member will retain the right to recall to an open position in their old department for which they are qualified, with full bridging of service for the time he or she was away up to six years. 

SHARE and UMass Memorial will explore providing additional options within the work security program to help place SHARE members when a group is laid off in a job title that is difficult to place within UMass Memorial Medical Center. 

Coming Soon: 401K Education for SHARE Members

As most of you know, SHARE agreed to pension changes in our most recent contract negotiations with UMass Memorial. One change is that the employer match for 401(k) contributions will double when the changes go into effect in 2017. The 401(k) will be important for future retirees, especially young SHARE members who will be in the new plan most of their careers.

Our pension survey last spring showed that half of SHARE members don't currently contribute to retirement savings through a 401(k) at UMass Memorial. Many said that they can't afford to take money out of their checks. Others said that more information about how the 401K works would help them to sign up for it. That's why SHARE is working with Human Resources to plan a series of Information Meetings for SHARE members about how the 401(k) works. We'll answer questions like:

• Do I need to put money into a 401(k)?
• How much money will UMass Memorial put into my account?
• How do I figure out how much money I should have taken out, and how much difference will I see in my check?
• What paperwork do I need to fill out? How do I do it?

We're aiming for September for the Information Meetings. Anyone who decides to open a 401(k) account start to contribute in October when the next raise is scheduled. If you'd like to get involved in planning the meetings, or to request one in your area, give the SHARE office a call (508-929-4020).

Pension Changes Start 2017

SHARE members have a defined benefit pension, which is a very good thing for us, because it provides a guaranteed monthly income in retirement. The 401(k) savings plan is in addition to the defined benefit pension and Social Security.

In contract negotiations, we agreed on future changes to both the defined benefit pension, and the 401(k). No changes will happen before 2017. In 2017, UMass Memorial will double their matching contribution to the 401(k), and change the formula for calculating the pension for 2017 and later. When the changes to the pension come, they will be gradual. SHARE members will continue adding to their pensions in 2017 and after, but at a slower rate. Everything that you have accrued in your pension is protected, and can't be taken away. (So, if you're debating whether to retire in, say, 2016 or 2017, the pension change shouldn't be a factor.) The full details of the pension agreement between SHARE and UMass Memorial are described beginning on page 3 of the most recent contract.

Stay tuned for details about the 401(k) Information Meetings.

Postcard from the LERA Conference

I had thought we would be able to catch our breath for a minute here and there and provide some updates during the LERA conference. But it was a whirlwind!

And, it was a good whirlwind. We attend these sorts of conferences from time to time for a couple of primary reasons. We have a unique union, and it's useful to build a web of connections among other unions and organizations that believe in positive, collaborative work. We often find that people who are interested in work systems are interested in SHARE's model. Perhaps most importantly, we learn a lot, and bring that learning back to our own union. 

I can't begin to convey everything about the conference here. This'll be a quick summary, and I'd love to talk with anyone who wants to know more about what we learned. LERA is the Labor and Employment Relations Association, and this was their 65th conference meeting, "The Future of Work," bringing together academics and labor leaders from all over.

We met folks from around the globe, many of them dealing with issues like the ones we face every day, many of them with particularly sharp ideas. We were hit up with interesting questions about the work that we're doing at SHARE: how we're addressing problems in patient experience, how we're working to protect our hospital and our members from outsourcing, and how we try hard to create connections within our union. It's awfully exciting to know that people from around the country have been talking about what SHARE has been doing. 

For me, the most inspiring example of important work being done to help workers elsewhere was described by Cheryl Feldman, with the AFSCME 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund. She delivered a talk entitled "Investing in a Skilled Workforce: A Win-Win for Workers and Employers." She gave a very inspiring description of her work over the past 30+ years, creating job ladders and training opportunities for climbing those ladders for AFSCME members in Philadelphia.

I was fascinated by Adam Seth Litwin's study of employee engagement at the Kaiser Permanente hospitals. It was heartening to hear his research finding scientifically what has been true in our experience: improving the workplace is complex. And, in the end, frontline employees really do hold much of the most important intelligence, and they are the ones who make quality outcomes happen.

There was inspiration to be had, but there was discouragement, too. I learned that nearly half the households in the United States don't have retirement funds. And, enough companies have filed for bankruptcy, (thereby skirting their commitment to pay out their Defined Benefit pensions), that the government agencies who bail out those companies are themselves facing financial problems. Meanwhile, powerful organizations such as ALEC have been successfully coordinating efforts to undermine the economic progress of working people.

We've got a lot of leads to explore. Timothy Vogus' concept of mindfulness organizing resonated with me, and his emphasis on expertise over authority. A neighbor at Brandeis University, Jody Hoffer Gittell, talked about the ways that our relationships with one another affect the "Lean" process improvement method that is currently so popular among management leaders.

We caught a fun Cardinals game, discovered a very nifty Indian import store, and went a little cross-eyed staring up at the impressive St. Louis arch. Now we're excited to talk more about what we've learned, and incorporate the good ideas into our own union.

Wish you were here: greetings from St. Louis!

Greetings from the conference of the Labor and Employment Relations Association! I am here with fellow SHARE organizer Janet Wilder, and a few hundred labor and business leaders from around the world, not to mention quite a few academics. There is an impressive looking roster of panels to attend. First up, this one: "Addressing Healthcare Challenges on the Frontlines: Partnership, Involvement, Voice and Mindful Organizing." Hope to learn a bunch. More to come…

Things SHARE members should know about the possible University MNA strike

SHARE members are asking a lot of questions about what will happen if the MNA strikes for one day and then UMass Memorial management keeps the replacement nurses for an additional for 4 days. SHARE very much hopes that the University MNA and UMass Memorial can come to an agreement without the need for a strike. Just in case, we are answering some of the questions that we have heard. (As you've probably heard, the Memorial MNA and UMass Memorial came to an agreement, so there will be no strike on the Memorial campus.

Q.  Should I go to work if the MNA goes on strike?

A.  Yes. The MNA is not asking SHARE members to stay out of work if they strike. The SHARE contract, like most union contracts, says we won't go on strike while our contract is in effect. SHARE employees would not be protected from discipline if they didn’t come to work.

Q.  I would like to show my support for the nurses in the MNA -- how should I do that?

A.  We expect that the MNA will welcome us to walk their picket line with them. You should do this on our own time: before or after work, or during your regular lunch break.

Q.  I hear that some units may close if there's a strike. What if my unit closes?

A.  You can be floated to another unit to do a comparable job to help with patient care. If you think that might happen, ask your manager to be oriented there ahead of time, before you are needed to float. Your manager could also ask you if you want to stay home and use your own time. The SHARE contract says that you don't have to go home and use your time if you don't want to (see the language about TOWOP here), but you could be floated to another unit. 

                                                                                                   

Q.  We're getting asked to sign up for extra shifts.

A.  Yes, that's happening in a bunch of places. You can sign up for extra hours to help out. If you are being mandated to work extra time and you want help with it, call SHARE at 508-929-4020.

Q.  What if I get asked to do RN work?

A.  You can be asked to do work if it's within your scope of practice. Don't do anything you don't feel confident doing. 

If you need information or advice during the strike, give the SHARE office a call. We'll be staffing the phones, and have SHARE organizers at the hospitals to help resolve any issues. If you get the voicemail when you call the SHARE office at 508-929-4020, leave a message at  for the general voicemail by pressing 0.

No SHARE Rep vote May 22

CANCELLED

Rep Elections for 

the Nursing Floor & ER Regions 

at the Memorial and University main campuses

CANCELLED

There will be no voting for Union Reps this year. There were enough spots for all the candidates because a couple of nominees declined the nomination.

Full list of Reps and Executive Board members coming soon!

If you have any questions, please call the SHARE office at 508-929-4020.

SHARE Union Rep Elections

Rep Elections for 

the Nursing Floor & ER Regions 

at the Memorial and University main campuses

on Wed, May 22, 2013

6:30am - 4pm  Memorial Cafeteria

6:30am - 4pm  University Cafeteria 

                         (back right corner)

To vote for SHARE Union Reps in the Nursing Floors & ER Region, you must work in one of the departments in that area (see lists below), and have signed a SHARE membership card.  

If you have any questions, please call the SHARE office at 508-929-4020.

There will be no voting for Union Reps in the other regions, because there were enough spots for all the nominees.

We will send out a list of all new and returning SHARE Reps & Executive Board members after the elections in the nursing regions.

Memorial Nursing Floors & ER Region

2 ICU (ICU & CCU)

EMERGENCY ROOM

IV THERAPY

MATERNITY (EAST 4 & SOUTH 4)

NICU

NURSE STAFFING

NURSING EDUCATION

NURSING FLOAT POOL

NURSING ONE TO ONE

PHYSICAL THERAPY (INPATIENT)

SOUTH 2

SOUTH 3

SOUTH 5

SOUTH 6

WEST ONE

WEST 3

University Nursing Floors & ER Region

3 EAST

3 ICU

3 WEST

4 EAST

4 WEST

5 EAST/SOUTH

5 ICU

6 EAST

6 ICU

6 WEST

7 EAST

7 ICU

8 EAST

ADMISSIONS UNIT

BMTU

CARE COORDINATION

COMMUNICATION CENTER

EMERGENCY MED SERVICES

EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH

EMERGENCY ROOM

LAKESIDE (2 & 3 ICU & CARDIAC STEP DOWN)

NGS ADMIN

NURSE STAFFING

NURSING FLOAT POOL

NURSING ONE TO ONE

PATIENT CARE SERVICES

RENAL DIALYSIS