CONTRACT RATIFIED!

The Union would like to inform you that the new contract has been ratified.  The vote was 364-106. Thanks for your hard work and all of your support through this process.  Your new contract goes into effect now.  The holiday premium increase goes into effect with the next holiday (Memorial Day).  The pay increases go into effect with the...

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Management Coughs Up Auditorium A for Contract Vote!

In a positive development, the Union has been able to secure Auditorium A in the hospital for the contract ratification vote! We believe this will help more members be able to vote with minimal inconvenience. The voting times remain 6 AM to 9 AM, 1 PM to 4 PM, and 5 PM to 8 PM on Thursday and Friday. Ballots will be counted on Friday at 8 PM. The ballot will offer two choices: whether to accept the tentative agreements or to reject them...

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Contract Vote on Thursday and Friday

This morning, the union notified St. Joe's management that all of the mandatory bargaining subjects have been resolved and that the union is going to present the tentative agreements to its membership on Thursday and Friday for your consideration. Management has been trying to force the union bargaining team to give up our unfair labor practice complaints that have been filed with the National Labor Relations Board over their illegal infringement...

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Top Foods and Drinks Detrimental to Your Oral Health

Does it matter which snack, breakfast cereal or beverage you reach for on the grocery shelf? When it comes to your oral health, it can make a big difference. The foods and drinks you select each contain different ingredients, including minerals, vitamins, sugars and acids, each with varying nutritional values and effects on your teeth and mouth. In some, the nutritional value is very low and their ability to cause problems to your oral...

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Save Money on Happy Hours and Food and Drink Specials

At times when everybody lives on a tighter budget looking for money saving opportunities is high priority. People still love to go out, meet friends after work, enjoy a good dinner but it can get expensive to do that. Happy hours and discounted food specials are really popular among people every age group. Restaurants are trying to fulfill that need with discounted menus and happy hours. But discovering these deals is not that easy. Happy...

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Basic Rug Cleaning Tips for Food and Drink Spills

Food and drink spills are among the toughest cleaning problems to deal with for rug owners. It is a common occurrence yet some still do not know the right way to approach cleaning up this kind of mess. Not knowing the basics of cleaning up food and drink spills can really put rug owners at a disadvantage and their carpets at serious risk of long-term damage. Whether you are having a party at your home or are just eating in the living...

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Union Continues to Seek Solutions to Staffing Crisis; Management Continues to Say "No"

Tomorrow, the Union heads back to the bargaining table to fight for better staffing. We have made a number of proposals to address your concerns.  Despite management's refusal to adequately address the issue,  we have modified our proposals in the hopes of getting a deal.As part of the solution, we had proposed a free charge to be available for unit coverage and support.  When management said "no", we proposed that charge nurses should...

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Throughout Months of Negotiations Management Fails to Talk About Plan for Schedule Changes

The Union learned this week about a management plan to implement new pattern schedules even on units where pattern schedules already exist.  Nurses on PCU were told yesterday that management intends to replace their current pattern schedules with different five-week rotations.  Nurses were told that it would not be possible to retain their old patterns and that everyone would have to select new ones.  Nurses were also told that...

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St. Joe's Violates Employee Rights

St. Joe nurses file complaints with national labor boardPublished: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 10:50 p.m. CDTJOLIET – A union nurses association says Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center engaged in unlawful actions against its bargaining team in Joliet, an allegation the hospital says isn't true.Illinois Nurses Association members are engaged in contract negotiations with administrators at Presence Saint Joseph. On Monday, association officials filed...

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St. Joe's: Bullying and Game Playing

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Herald-News Covers INA's Outreach to Public and Mayor

Nurses rally for safer staffing levelsNurses demonstrate ahead of next contract sessionBy FELIX SARVER - fsarver@shawmedia.comJOLIET – More than a dozen union nurses gathered Tuesday at the intersection of Jefferson and Springfield streets in Joliet to promote what they said would be safer staffing levels at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center.The nurses, part of the Illinois Nurses Association, are in contract negotiations with administrators...

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Management Thinks "30 minutes" is Enough Time to Talk about Safe Staffing

Last week, management's chief spokesperson was on vacation, so they brought in a pinch hitter from the past, Terry Solom.  Unfortunately, the change in spokesperson didn't result in the hospital taking the issue of staffing any more seriously.  While the union urged management to spend the day discussing the staffing crisis, management suggested that "30 minutes" was sufficient.  Eventually, the union was able to get management to...

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INA in the Herald-News Again!

Joliet nurses testify at hearing for state billBy LAUREN LEONE–CROSSJOLIET – Months into contract negotiations, union nurses and administrators at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center are still at odds, with a change to staffing ratios being the main sticking point.The issue of nurse-to-patient staff ratios at the state level was the subject of a legislative hearing Wednesday...

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Additional Date Added

The union and management have agreed to add an additional bargaining day for today, April 14. Management is bringing back Terry Solom, the chief spokesperson for the prior contracts. The union hopes that real progress will be made tod...

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Progress Made in Bargaining, But Management Still Won't Fix Staffing; Keep the Pressure On!

Significant progress was made at the bargaining table yesterday.  Coming in the first bargaining session since the membership overwhelmingly rejected their proposals, management has withdrawn its proposal to eliminate EIB from the contract, dropped its push to replace HE with mandatory standby, and given up on its plan to add two additional tracked (unpaid) holidays. However, they are still trying to increase the amount of PTO you must use before...

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INA to Testify Before Legislature on Safe Staffing

Next week, INA members will testify before the Human Services Committee of the Illinois General Assembly in favor of safe staffing ratios.  The hearing will be held at the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago at 2pm on Thursday, April 17.  Anyone interested in testifying or attending the hearing should send us an email at ina.stjoes@gmail.c...

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INA in today's Herald-News

Nurses at Presence Saint Joseph in Joliet strongly reject contract offerBoth sides say they are remaining optimistic  JOLIET – Nurses at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center this week overwhelming rejected a contract offer made by administration, but both sides remain optimistic that a compromise will be reached without a strike.Union members voted 497 to 38 against the hospital’s three-year contract offer, which affects nearly 800 nurses at...

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