In the last week of bargaining, before our contract expires, we met with management for a mediation session and a bargaining session. Things felt contentious after it became apparent that we won’t be making progress on our top priorities before contract expiration.
“We maintain our stance that staffing is one of our biggest priorities and we will not back down.” Maria LaVelle, RN Vascular Access & AURN Grievance Chair
We were glad to move closer on some of the articles we have been exchanging. We reached a TA on Article 15: Leaves of Absence and Article 22: Grievances. Additionally, we reached agreement to extend three MOUs through July 30, 2023; the
CNI MOU,
RSV MOU, and the
Supplemental Call MOU.
Your AURN Bargaining Team has heard you loud and clear that you don’t want negotiations to be drawn out through the fall, so we decided to not extend the current contract to ensure we don’t have to extend our timelines. Moving forward, we enter mediation-only sessions, which will continue to be closed to members to help both parties talk through their biggest priorities. At this point, we feel our priorities are not management’s priorities in many areas. If you’d like to see where economic proposals currently stand,
look here.
Even though our contract will expire, it remains essential in our workplace. Management may not change the status quo, which is what was in effect prior to expiration of our contract. To do so would be an unfair labor practice. So, we want to make sure you know your rights as an AURN member.
What are your rights working as a union nurse at OHSU?It is imperative that you know your rights as a union member while working in a union environment at OHSU. Our union, Association University of Registered Nurses (AURN) is a constituent association of the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA). Each hospital that ONA represents is a constituent association, that is why we have a different name then just ONA. AURN is specific to only OHSU nurses. Our rights as union members is something we all should understand, especially when you are exercising your protected and concerted union activities. What are those? Here is a list with some examples:
• You have the right to join our union and speak to others about joining.
• You have the right to wear union swag and pass out union swag while at the hospital.
• You have the right to pass out union flyers, post union flyers and talk about union activities with co-workers. If you are able to speak about your child’s birthday party, who is the President of the US or what kind of a car you drive while you’re a work, then you are allowed to speak about our contract, potential violations of our contract (grievances), concerns about workplace issues, staffing or anything in regards to bargaining our contract, potential pickets, strikes, and well let’s be honest, anything in relation to our union!
• You have the right to file a grievance when you feel a contract violation has occurred.
• You have the right to participate in pickets and strikes.
You have protections for being a union member. If you find yourself in a situation where another staff member at OHSU interferes with, prevents or coerces you in such a way as to prevent you from exercising the rights above, you need to reach out to an AURN Labor Reps right away at AURNLaborReps@oregonrn.org It is illegal for anyone to intimidate or limit you from exercising these rights. If you are called into a meeting that could lead to you receiving discipline, we encourage you to exercise your Weingarten Rights. This means stating you would like to continue the meeting when you have union representation. Be sure to use the language on the green badge backers. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your Labor Reps and find further information on the
ONA website.
Upcoming Information Picket & Sign Making PartyWe have several events coming up that you don’t want to miss! Picket Sign Making PartyWhen: Saturday June 24th 10am-4pm
Where: ONA Office, 18765 SW Boones Ferry Rd., Tualatin, OR 97062
AURN Info Picket When: Thursday June 29th 5pm-8pm
Where: OHSU Mac Lawn
Info Pickets at other OHSU Affiliated Hospitals:
Columbia Memorial Hospital When: Tuesday, June 27 from 7-9 a.m. & 5-7 p.m.
Where: 2111 Exchange St., Astoria
OHSU HillsboroWhen: Wednesday, June 28 from 5-7 p.m.
Where: 335 SE 8th Ave., Hillsboro
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