PRNA Bargaining Begins

March 2014

March 12, 2014

As you all know, our contract expires on April 29, 2014. Over the last few months we have been hard at work preparing proposals based on responses to PRNA's bargaining survey, grievances, the misinterpretation of our contract and, most of all, what you've told us during general membership meetings and rounding.

On Tuesday, March 11, our Bargaining Team met with management to start negotiations on our third contract. The team members for management included CEO Steve Popkin, COO Bob Brown, CFO Patti Lepe, Director of HR Stacci Gary, and CNO Tom Santos. The PRNA Bargaining Team included our elected affiliate officers, elected member Lois Mitchell, UNAC/UHCP Staff Representatives Penny Brown and Joy Harvey, UNAC/UHCP Assistant Director of Collective Bargaining Suzanne Delaney, and UNAC/UHCP Lead Negotiator Bill Rouse.

The room buzzed with anticipation, and after mutually agreeing to a set of procedural ground rules everyone was eager to begin.

Lead Negotiator Bill Rouse presented management with most of PRNA's non-economic proposals pertaining to Articles 6, 12, and 20. Each proposal was explained to management to assure understanding of the intent of the language. Although management verbalized understanding regarding the explanations, they were unwilling to give any response, stating that they will not make any decisions until after the union election for SEIU on Thursday, March 13. At management's request, we agreed to cancel negotiations scheduled for today, March 12, 2014.

Negotiations will resume on March 21, 2014 at 10AM in the boardroom of the Founder's Center.

We want to thank those members who came to negotiations yesterday. We hope to see more of you at our next negotiations. As always your presence makes us stronger. You are the foundation with which we stand strong and our power lies in your participation, and your voice.

So, SAVE THE DATE-March 21, 2014 @ 10am-and come to negotiations. We can't wait to see you. Please wear your UNAC/UHCP scrub top to help show your support. Don't have a UNAC/UHCP scrub top? Get one at negotiations! All you have to do is show up; update your contact information and sign up for PRNA's informational text blasts. Remember, THE POWER OF OUR UNION IS YOU, OUR MEMBERS!!

In Solidarity,
Your PRNA Bargaining Team