2016 FNA Book of Reports

2016 Florida Nurses Association
L.E.R.C.
Labor and Employee Relations Council
LERC
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, Tallahassee
Florida International University, Coral Gables
Deborah Hogan, Chair of LERC, President, Professional Healthcare Unit
Marsha Martin President, Shands University of Florida
Marcia Stroud President, Wuesthoff Memorial Hospital
Alice Laxton- University Health Services (Tallahassee)
Susana Guerra- Florida International University
Jeanie Demshar, Esq. – Director of Professional Practice Advocacy and Labor Relations
The FNA Labor and Employment Relations Council (LERC) is a leadership forum comprised of the
certified bargaining unit presidents. The Council speaks for the bargaining units’ memberships in labor
relations matters. LERC brings all of the FNA units together to make decisions that will strengthen
membership. The different bargaining units have all been through change and challenges and are ready
for the future!
LERC has been affiliated with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) since
July 2013 to increase membership in each bargaining unit. Membership drives have been held across
Florida. Each unit has its own website and Facebook page.
This past year saw a lot of activity. The Professional Health Care Unit (state unit) took center stage, as 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 and Jeanie Demshar have led the effort
to support the state employees.
The FNA’s two-year contract with the State of Florida expires on June 30, 2017. The parties recently
completed the 2016 reopener and ratified the changes to the contract. During the reopener, the parties
reached legislative impasse on the wage and on-call articles. Job security provisions, which are so
critically important for public employees, were retained. The unit’s goal is to increase membership
before negotiating with the state in 2016 and 2017 for a successor contract.
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 2016 reopener,
and the changes to the contract were ratified by the membership. The changes included a $.25/hour
across the board increase for all nurses in the unit, an increase in tuition reimbursement, an increase
of $2.00/hour for float nurses, and an increase from $41.20/hour to $42.70/hour for nurses working at
the top of the pay scale. Over the last year, the parties have also reached agreements where the hospital
voluntarily recognized the FNA as the exclusive representative of nurses employed in five different units
(not previously represented by the FNA). The unit has its own website and Facebook page which has
been very effective in communicating with members. Elections for new officers will occur in 2016. We
will begin negotiations for a new contract in 2017.
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. However, the
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