MNU Local 97 General Meeting

December 12, 2006

R.A. Steen 980 Palmerston 1700 hours

Agenda Items

 

1.      Introductions of the executive.

2.      Dawn Thompson discussed new MNU Local 97 website address www.mnulocal97.ca.  Nurses can email the union with their questions.

3.      Education Part 1: Workload Staffing Reports (WLSR)

Nurses should not be afraid to file a Workload Staffing Report.  Remember, this is a joint Union/Management form and is for the use of management as well as the union.  It is to be supported by management. 


Workload Staffing Reports (WSR) are to be filled out when:

 

The first step, when ever reasonably possible, is to discuss the situation with the immediate supervisor in an effort to resolve the concern. 

If space is inadequate, additional forms can be completed and attached. The WSR # must be noted on all additional papers.

Once the form is complete; the pages are detached and distributed as follows…

1.      One is kept by the author

2.      One is given to the Local Worksite President or designate

3.      One is given to the Nursing Administration Office

4.      It is advisable to make a photocopy of the completed form to keep for your records

The completed form is given to the supervisor with whom the situation was discussed.


The Workload Staffing Reports will go to the Nursing Advisory Committee - A local can request that a report be prepared based in their worksite’s specific issues.


Particular Examples of when to fill out a WLSR:

►One evening the LPN’s had 28 clients and the RN’s had 6.  Dawn advised the LPN’s to fill out a WLSR.

►Incomplete Referrals cause extra work time and possible client safety issues and thus a WLSR needs to be filled out. Specific examples include no supplies sent from the hospital, no medication orders, incorrect medication orders, wrong client address, wrong client telephone number etc.


4.      A Fort Garry/River Height nurse advised Dawn that the area clerks took the occurrence reports out of the planning area and put them by the clerk’s desk.  Dawn advised the nurses to ensure they are letting their area reps and the union know when situations are happening and the union will follow up.

5.      Discussion ensued related to Over Time. Dawn states nurses are to work within the scheduled parameters of the work day.  If nurses are working past 16:15 on a regular basis they are to fill out Work Load Staffing Reports or ensure they are reporting the situation to the NRC to be approved for overtime. If the NRC’s are not approving Over Time the nurse has the right to state they can not finish their visits in the allotted time.  Dawn maintains that the nurse should make efforts to cancel non-essential visits or problem solve with the NRC’s for alternative courses of action if possible.

6.      Education Part 2: Occurrence Reports

Dawn notes that there was a Winnipeg Free Press article that states nurses are in a lot of danger and many nurses are off work on sick leave due to us not working in a safe environment.


Dawn notes that the Winnipeg Free Press article did not include information related to Home Care Nurses.


Dawn maintains she sent an email to the President of MNU Maureen Hancharyk to ask her opinion if she felt home care nurses should contact the Winnipeg Free Press to discuss that we are having major safety concerns. Maureen was in agreement.


Dawn maintains she discussed some of the Home Care Nurses safety concerns with Jen Skerritt.  The article is to come out later on this week.


Discussion ensued that the when a nurse identifies as particular situation as dangerous the WRHA’s response is to send another nurse in.


A particular occurrence happened this past weekend when a nurse went into a client’s home to administer medication. The nurse and the client’s family member got into a disagreement.  The family member ended up following the nurse to their car, aggressively passing them and writing down the nurse’s licence plate.  This nurse contacted the After Hours Program to get the client’s nursing visits cancelled as they deemed this to be an unsafe environment.  After Hours sent in another nurse.  The union has been involved and this situation is being followed up on.


Dawn maintains that supervisors under the Workplace Safety and Health Act have legal responsibilities that all precautions are taken to protect the safety and health of their workers.  Dawn indicates handouts are available to the nurses to take.  This information related to Safe Work; Workers Rights and Responsibilities and Supervisors Responsibilities are posted on the MNU Boards.


Dawn concluded by saying we need to fill out occurrence reports.  An Occurrence Report Training Report was handed out. Area Reps are to ensure this is placed on the MNU boards.


7. A nurse stated a concern that when she phoned a scheduling clerk to ask what the Code 33 was for a client.  This nurse maintained the clerk stated she was unable to locate this information.  Dawn indicated that the nurse has the right to tell the clerk under the WPS&H act that they will not be able to see that client as adequate information related to why they are specially coded is not available.  Lack of knowledge of the conditions that you are attending is a safety concern.


8. A Fort Garry River Heights nurse maintains that they had a very verbally abusive client that has been a concern for many years.  The nurses maintain many occurrence reports had been written.  The RN’s declined seeing this clients and this client was seen by LPN’s. The client is currently in hospital. Dawn advised that area nurses need to get together and discuss with their NRC and TM that no nurse can see this client if they are going to be abusive.  The nurses are to follow up with the union. The union will follow up with Team Managers and CC: Linda Dando so that the lines of communication are open. 


9. Dawn maintains if problems are occurring in general she was advised by a Community Area Director who is the boss of the Team Managers that nurses are to go to there Team Managers with concerns.


10. Constitutional Change Vote

Chris Wensel discussed the constitutional change vote whereas the four executive positions have two year terms.  If approved commencing May 2007 the VP and the Treasurer would be voted in for two years and in May 2008 the President and the Secretary would be voted in for two year terms. The nurses present at the meeting were in agreement and the constitutional change passed.


11. A Downtown nurses states that they have been floated to many different areas recently.  Dawn/Chris advised this nurse and other nurses affected to keep track of dates and areas that they are being floated too and give this information to the union.  Chris/Dawn advised the nurses that the union needs data to cross reference to see if one nurse is being floated into an area while another nurse is being floated out. 


12. Meeting was adjourned at 18:40