Lockport Memorial Hospital

Current Contract (HTML without wage schedules)

Current Contract PDF (with wage schedules)
 

10/24/2007

2007 Negotiations Update

Arthur L. Munson
Field Representative
PEF Division 505

          The Collective Bargaining Agreement between Lockport Memorial Hospital and the Public Employees Federation was due to expire on September 31, 2007.  The parties have mutually agreed to an extension of the Agreement thru November 30, 2007.

          The negotiating team for this contract is comprised of a four-member committee of elected officers.  This includes Ruth Pattison, Maggie Eaton, Robbin Pollock, and Dave Larson.  Field Representative Art Munson serves as the chief spokesperson for the committee.

          Since starting in August, we have had several negotiating sessions with the employer, as well as several Committee work sessions.  Several issues and items have already been resolved and agreed upon.  The negotiations have thus far been extremely productive and much more cordial than has been the past practice.  These are good signs.

          In addition to the formal negotiating sessions, the Committee has also been busy working on the contract.  They have done an incredible amount of work.  The Committee did the initial survey, compiled the results, reviewed, analyzed, and selected a Dental insurer and plan, and also obtained and reviewed all of the current job descriptions at the facility.  Their hard work has already paid off at the bargaining table.

          Two more sessions are scheduled for early November, and we are hoping to reach agreement in time for the November PEF Executive Board meeting.

5/27/04

The date for the contract ratification meetings have been rescheduled for 5:00 p.m. AND 7:00 p.m. on June 9, 2004 at the UAW Hall.

Unfortunately, we were unable to put the entire contract proposal together, review it for accuracy, and have PEF review it, in time for the meeting originally scheduled for May 17, 2004. When the Contract team reviewed the proposed contract, we found a few errors that must be corrected. We also need some clarifications in order to answer members’ questions. In fact, we still have a few outstanding documents and questions to resolve before our new scheduled date.

The contract team will have a complete, thoroughly reviewed package to present to the membership at that time.

Because the contract is important to each of you, the team wants to assure that it is accurate and complete. You have an absolute right to be fully informed about its content. We are serious about fulfilling our obligation to be prepared to answer any questions that arise at our meetings during the presentation of the proposed contract. The contract team reserved the UAW facility for the first date it is available.

We look forward to providing you a detailed description of the proposed contract.

COME TO THE RATIFICATION MEETING
MAY 17, 2004 5:00 P.M. AND 7:00 P.M.
United Auto Workers (UAW) Hall
 

5/11/2004

On Friday May 7, 2004, after a full day of negotiations, the Union and management reached a tentative agreement to present to the membership for ratification.

The committee recommends that members ratify the new agreement. A Contract Ratification Meeting will be held at the Lockport UAW Hall on Monday May 17, 2004 at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm in the upper level meeting hall. Employees should arrange coverage with their supervisors and co-workers so they can attend one of the meetings. All employees will be contacted by a member mobilizer and informed of the meeting. Postings announcing the meeting will also be placed in the usual locations.

At the meeting, we will review the full content and language of the proposal and answer questions. A vote will be taken after that meeting. Only after the second meeting and voting has concluded will the votes be tallied. The proposal includes some significant changes and additions to the Contract and your attendance is strongly encouraged.

Without the perseverance of the Union Negotiating Team we would not have this proposed agreement. Thanks to Team members Toni Delahunt, Joe Koss, Kathy Teeter, and Tina Zimmerman for their hard work.

We hope to see you at the ratification meeting.
 

4/30/2004

 Monday April 26, 2004 marked our twelfth negotiating session with the employer.  PEF presented a counter proposal encompassing all outstanding issues.  A few economic issues remain.  There is, however, a significant difference in the financial positions between us.  The Hospital and Union have agreed to set aside the entire day of May 7, 2004.  We hope it will be our final negotiating session.

The entire committee appreciates your continued patience.  We are dealing with some very important issues that require careful deliberation. 

We will have a membership meeting in May regardless of the outcome of the next negotiating session.  We hope to bring to you a contract offer at that time.  If we cannot reach an agreement with management, the Union will hold an informational meeting including the discussion of alternatives to expedite the resolution of our negotiations.   

Watch for meeting announcements!

2/18/2004

At the February 13, 2004 bargaining session, Lockport management presented an economic proposal covering most of the open issues. It was an encouraging first financial offer. We have a long way to go before we will reach an agreement the Committee can recommend for approval. We agreed to extend the current collective bargaining agreement through March 31, 2004 and hope to conclude bargaining by then.

The PEF Bargaining Committee is meeting this evening to formulate a response (counter proposal) to present to management in the next couple of days. While we fully expect to reach an agreement there is always a chance that the bargaiing process may deteriorate and we will need to demonstrate our resolve to management.

The Bargaining Committee will be distributing PEF badge holders to members over the next few days. Please utilize these items to inform the public of your affiliation. It is always important that the patients know who is providing their care and assisting them at the Hospital.

Watch this site for continuing updates.
 

1/21/2004

On January 12, 2004, the Union team met to discuss membership feedback on several items reported on the PEF web site. We have taken those suggestions and concerns into consideration in forming our next set of counter proposals. The Committee is doing a terrific job of letting me know how the members feel about our negotiations. This communication process is helping assure that we are representing the members in negotiations.

Management requested that we delay our next negotiating session until Lockport could prepare a comprehensive economic proposal for all open issues. Attorney Jim Schmitt, Lockport’s Chief Negotiator contacted my office on January 17, 2004 to let me know that Lockport is putting their proposal package together. We hope to have our next negotiating session by the end of January.

Thank you for all the feedback you have sent me in response to contract updates on the internet. Many of you have been reading these updates and commenting to the negotiating team. Please continue to do so. I will attempt to update this site more frequently as we get closer to scheduling a ratification or information meeting. This is the first time I have used the internet to keep the membership posted on the negotiations process. As we get closer to having a final package to vote on, I believe this tool will be of even greater importance.

In Unity,

Art Munson
 

12/16/2003


PEF is continuing negotiations with management and they are escalating in intensity. We started to discuss economic issues and PEF presented counterproposals to management’s attempts to increase current contribution levels to the Health Care Insurance and the Retiree Health Care Benefit. The recent increases in Health Insurance premiums hit our unit particularly hard. The Mobilizing Team recently distributed an explanation and information on that issue. Make sure you and fellow PEF members have read it.

We must take a strong position with the employer and show how important these benefits are to each of us. As it gets closer to crunch time, we will have to demonstrate our Unity and our resolve as unit. Over the next week, the mobilizers in your unit will be distributing ID holders that will identify you as a PEF employee. Wear your PEF badge proudly to demonstrate support for your contract tem and to show the public that PEF members are crucial to the care they receive at LMH.

Our next negotiations are scheduled for December 16, 2003 and should be interesting because it is the employer’s turn to respond to our last counterproposal, which included NO CHANGE to the current calculation of Health Insurance premiums contributions. Our negotiations will most assuredly go beyond the start of the New Year, despite our desire to wrap them up in time for the Holiday Season. This is necessary because of the extremely important and sensitive issues we are addressing. The Contract Team is determined to expedite discussions during the month of January. We will not be deterred.
 

11/20/2003

After six bargaining sessions with the employer, PEF has made substantial progress on our non-economic proposals and has begun discussions with regard to the economic package. Two meetings ago the hospital gave a presentation on the financial status of the Hospital. The meeting was chaired by Claire Haar. The Hospital has made great strides in getting its fiscal house in order, reducing its debt significantly. While that is good news, management also presented us with information regarding the cost of a long time benefit that has affected their ability to borrow money. Specifically the Hospital is focusing on the cost of providing health insurance for retirees. Management is seeking some sort of relief from this benefit. Obviously this is an important benefit to our members and we will fight any attempts to take it away without due compensation. The negotiating team is meeting next week to draft a response to Lockport’s latest positions.

The recently created Member Mobilizer team will be meeting to help spread current negotiation information to members. Training Specialist Denise Young will be meeting with us to guide and assist the mobilizers in the next few weeks.

Our next negotiating session is scheduled for December 4, 2003. We expect the process to move quickly now as our issues are narrowed and positions are more clearly defined. I am hopeful that the Hospital will recognize the sacrifices and hard work of the membership over the last six years and will demonstrate that recognition in an acceptable proposal for the committee to bring to the membership with a recommendation for ratification. Many of you visiting the PEF web site have been looking for a link to our Contract and I am happy to report that the Lockport contract is now posted. At the top of this page you will find the link to the current contract.

Art Munson
Field Representative
 

9/4/2003

The first negotiation meeting was held on August 26, 2003. The Union and Management representatives agreed upon continuing the practice of informal ground rules regarding the format and procedures for the negotiations. The Union presented a list of proposed contract changes. The list included wage and pension increases and enhancements, benefit enhancements including some part-time inclusion, and some proposed work rules changes. The meeting was cordial and each proposal was discussed, explained, and reasoning for the proposal was presented. The employer had several questions regarding the proposals, and the Union committee provided supportive discussions.

The parties agreed to three additional meeting dates of September 4th, 9’th, and 16’th. The employers lead negotiator notified the Union that he would be unavailable for approximately two weeks starting on September 18, 2003. With the expiration date of September 30, 2003 fast approaching, Field Representative Art Munson has requested that a general membership meeting be held in September to report to the membership with respect to the progress of negotiations as well as any possible extension of the current agreement.
 

After a kick off Dinner/Contract meeting hosted by President Benson and Secretary Treasurer Hallum, the Lockport Hospital Employees represented by PEF were set to start negotiations on their new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Membership Meetings held over the last two months generated a long list of proposed changes and increases to the contract. The Field Representative has compiled those proposals and is set to present them to the Hospital over the next several weeks. On June 30, 2003 PEF notified the Federal Mediation Services that the Union is opening negotiations. That same day PEF sent a copy of that notice along with a request for available meeting dates to the Hospital Administration.

The LMH Contract Team consists of Field Representative Art Munson, and LMH/PEF elected officers Toni Delahunt, Joe Koss, Tina Zimmerman, and Kathy Teeter. They will be assisted and advised by Contract Administration Associate Counsel Lisa Newmark.

There is currently a request into PEF Divisions to determine whether or not the division is allowed to add another steward/officer due to the two off-site facilities the Hospital runs. If approved, the council will move quickly to elect another officer to join the Contract Team.

The LMH/PEF Membership numbers approximately 115 employees. Another 400 employees, represented by two other Unions, also work at the hospital. Two years ago a work stoppage (Strike) by one of the other Unions resulted in PEF members being out of work for about six weeks. President Benson arranged for strike benefits for those employees through assistance by PEF affiliate SEIU. At the kickoff meeting the membership was reminded of PEF’s past support and leadership, and assured of their continuance.

This web page will continue to bring updates and reports on the status of the negotiations at the Hospital.

For more information call:

Art Munson, Field Representative, at the Buffalo PEF Office
(716) 853-3100 or (800) 462-1462
Or email Art at amunson@PEF.org