2015 FNA Book of Reports

2015 Florida Nurses Association
FNA/OPEIU
Labor and Employment Relations Council
Local 713
Shands Hospital at the University of Florida (Gainesville)
Wuesthoff Memorial Hospital (Rockledge)
Professional Health Care Unit (State Unit)
Florida State University – University Health Services (Tallahasee)
Florida International University (Coral Gables)
Labor and Employment Relations Commission
Deborah Hogan – Chair of LERC
Jeanie Demshar, Esq. – Director of Professional Practice Advocacy and Labor Relations
The FNA Labor and Employment Relations Council (LERC) brings all of the FNA unions together to make decisions that
will strengthen our membership. This past year, for LERC, has been one of rebuilding and solidifying the base. The
different bargaining units have all been through change and challenges and are ready for the future! We are looking
forward to the fifth annual Labor Leadership Institute that will be held on September 30 through October 1, 2015,
in Orlando. We have national speakers lined up to speak on numerous issues, including but not limited to, internal
organizing, negotiations, grievances, and employment law. We encourage our members to attend as the conference provides
a venue to share workplace concerns, meet fellow members, and learn about collective bargaining and becoming involved in
your organization.
LERC has been working with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (with whom LERC affiliated
in July 2013) to increase membership in each bargaining unit. We are working on a new organizing campaign, and
membership drives are being scheduled for each unit across the state of Florida.
This past year saw a lot of activity on the labor front. The Professional Health Care Unit (state unit) took center stage as
it has been functioning in a tense environment at the state level. The state government has made and continues to make
every effort to downsize the workforce and minimize the workplace benefits of our state unit members. Debbie Hogan, the
President of the state unit, and Jeanie Demshar, the FNA Director of Labor Relations, have worked hard on behalf of our
collective bargaining members and the Association in this arena.
The FNA and the State of Florida recently reached a tentative agreement for a two-year contract with a reopener in 2016
for wages and five other articles. While we did not achieve the economic gains we sought, we were able to keep the job
security provisions which are so critically important in these troubling times for public employees. The unit’s goal is to
increase membership before negotiating with the state in 2016 for the reopener. The state unit will hold elections for new
officers in 2015.
The Shands Unit is doing well. There has been an increase in membership, and the existing contract is effective through
April 2017 with reopeners each year. The parties recently met for the 2015 reopener, and the changes to the contract
were ratified by the membership. The unit has its own website and Facebook page which has been very effective in
communicating with members.
The Wuesthoff unit is also doing well, and we have seen an increase in membership in that unit. The existing contract is
effective through February 2017 and does not contain a reopener. The Wuesthoff unit will hold elections for new officers in
2015.
The FNA’s contract with the University Health Services at the Florida State University is effective through June 2017. The
parties recently met for the 2015 reopener, and the changes to the contract were ratified by the membership. Elections for
new officers will be held in 2015.
LERC’s most recent unit includes the nurses at Florida International University in Coral Gables. The three year contract
with the University is effective through 2017.
107