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Nurses urged to mobilize to pass OT bill
Mandatory overtime promotes neglect, fear, danger
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Incidents resulting from a nurse working mandatory overtime run the gamut from
leaving a small child at home alone to not being able to administer medication
to an elderly parent.
One nurse who works in PEF Region 5 said, “I have missed my children’s events
because I am still doing my charting. I have traveled at unsafe speeds to get to
an event because I’m late due to charting, emergency or non-relief.”
“They don’t care if you have to go home. And if you leave, it’s abandonment,”
said a PEF nurse who works in a downstate correctional facility. “Neglecting
your own family isn’t part of the job, but that’s what happens when you are
forced to work mandatory overtime. It’s a scary thought when a nurse is by
herself and she knows she can’t leave.”
According to PEF Region 11 Coordinator Jemma Marie Hanson, that sentiment is
shared by dozens of nurses across the state who insist on anonymity.
“Most nurses are concerned about retribution or being penalized in some fashion
for speaking out. They don’t want the spotlight on them,” Hanson said.
Greater momentum
The movement to end mandatory overtime has heated up during the last few years.
This year, the momentum is greater than ever and more nurses are joining the
push to have a bill passed limiting mandatory overtime.
The New York State Nurses Association is jumping on the bandwagon and will be
joining PEF nurses and those from New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and
1199 SEIU (Service Employees International Union) on Nurses’ Lobby Day, May 2.
“The nurses need to get involved and empower themselves,” said Joyce Degenhardt,
PEF Region 1 coordinator and member of the Nurses Committee.
Mobilization, dedication work
“Look what mobilization has done for the state Division of Parole. Parole
officers from across the state got on buses and attended two Assembly hearings,”
Degenhardt said. “Now they are getting movement in their agency. Nurses need to
follow that example.”
The plan for the month of April is to have PEF nurses send thousands of
postcards to lawmakers and the governor that highlight the mandatory overtime
bill, and the problems of short staffing in state hospitals and facilities.
Nurses will send three postcards. One is aimed specifically at the governor.
Another postcard will be sent to your agency head, and one each to Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.
“In the March issue of The Communicator, nurses can read how the Nurses
Committee met with Assembly Speaker Silver and others who were receptive to
nursing issues. This should encourage our nurses and help keep these issues as
an ongoing movement. If nurses participate in the postcard campaign, attend
legislative receptions and Lobby Day, we are keying in three legislative
activities during a short period of time,” Degenhardt said.
“Our need to limit mandatory overtime and increase staffing will be expressed.
It’s up to the nurses to make this work,” she said.
Nurses who do not receive postcards should contact their council leader or PEF
regional office.
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The Communicator April 2006
Features
Agencies wastes $ on
consultants
Members
work to stop bad budget
DOT members
meet lawmakers
PEF gets
support in stopping cuts
DOT members
tell all at hearing
New program
addresses grievances
Battle for
accountability heats up
Departments
President's Message
You Said It
Retirees In Action
Membership Benefits &Travel
Union Matters
PEF political
endorsements...
Probation
officers want fairness
Parole
officers caseload is murder
Nurses must mobilize
to pass...
Performance
award checks coming
Progress: Stop Workplace Violence
Promotion Test
Battery update
PS&T
Contract Survey
2006
Conv. Delegate Information
State must
re-bid Rx contract
New web site
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