SOME PROGRESS MADE IN NEGOTIATIONS
Before the bargaining session on Wednesday, Crozer and CCPA/PASNAP spoke by phone and agreed that a settlement was not likely if so many issues remained on the table. The Union alone had more than 35.
During the call, the Union agreed to come to yesterday’s session with a substantially pared down list of demands. But when the Union team opened the session, it withdrew only four minor demands out of its list of 35. No changes were made to most of CCPA/PASNAP’s other proposals.
We told the Union team that we felt its response was a setback to the bargaining process and we were nearing an impasse.
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Following sidebar discussions between the negotiators, we returned to the table and some progress was made:
Health and Safety: We signed a “tentative agreement” to create a more robust Health and Safety Committee, to work together to improve safety and reduce work injuries, and to equip all units with power stretchers.
Hiring and Promotions: We agreed that jobs will be posted on the net scheduler for at least 10 calendar days.
Hospital Benefits: We agreed that, to the extent provided by hospital policy, vacation and personal time can be applied to emergency time off. Unpaid time off will be granted for bereavements not listed in the policy.
Subject to working out some details, we agreed to a new Seniority and Lay-Off Article with severance and insurance of up to 12 weeks in a layoff.
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We maintain our Settlement Offer that is virtually identical to other recent union settlements.
Wage Increases comparable to the agreements reached by PASNAP RNs and other unions.
New Choices Benefits Plan–more than 5,000 other Crozer Keystone Health System employees will start enrolling November 9, but your participation depends on having a signed contract.
Defined Benefit Pension retained for current EMS employees. New hires join a Defined Contribution Retirement Plan the same as most new hires in the health system since January 1, 2011
Improved New Hire Scale increased to match current market conditions, while current employees stay on a higher scale that increases in years 2 and 3.
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With the Union’s unrealistic economic demands, we remain far apart. No further session have yet been scheduled, but we agreed to contact the Federal Mediator and structure the next session so further progress can be made.
If you have any questions regarding what is on the table, please do not hesitate to ask the Chief or an Assistant Chief.
