Tarzana Bargaining Team Elections
Let’s welcome our new bargaining team. Feel free to introduce yourself to team members and let them know what you would like to see in our upcoming contract. Bargaining surveys will come out in January.
Jim Owen, RN, PACU Karen Pelone, RN, L&D Sandy Thompson, RN, ER Joanna Tan, Clinical Lab Scientist Kathy Parlevliet, Charge RN, CVICU
Alternates Sue Stephens, RN, NICU Julia Clare, RN, Float
We will get to know our bargaining team members over the next couple flyers.
Kathy Parlevliet – Charge RN, CVICU
Kathy first worked at the hospital in 1981 as a new grad. She left and returned in 1996 when the open heart program was transferred from Encino to Tarzana. Upon being transferred to Tarzana, she sought out our Union and has been a strong Union advocate ever since. Kathy’s three children are now grown and she no longer works nights, so she finally had the time to get involved. Kathy says, “I wanted to be an active voice for the intensive care units and for our membership in general. Now more than ever, we need to be informed and aware of what’s going on around us. We need to make sure that we maintain and improve our contract, address new issues as they arise, and maintain an open conversation with management about the issues important to us.”
Karen Pelone – RN, Labor & Delivery
Karen Pelone was first hired as a secretary at Tarzana in 1990 and became an RN in 1993. She became involved in our Union when she was first hired and later became a steward. She has been involved in the past three negotiations and is secretary of the Tarzana Chapter. Karen said, “I want to make sure that the Union continues to be a positive influence in the workforce. We need to maintain our Clinical Ladder as it is currently configured, continue to address inequities in our wage scale, and make sure we have strong language around issues of workplace safety. We will need everyone’s support and input to make a difference.” Karen has promised to provide comic relief for the Bargaining Team when the going gets tough.
Patient Care Committee
The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25. If you have issues, please contact Karen Pelone, L&D; Sandy Thompson, ER nights; Jim Owen, PACU; or Linda Epstein, CVICU. If you would like to get involved, email Judith Serlin at serlinj@seiu121rn.org.
The following was discussed at the last committee meeting:
- Hospital cleanliness - The new cleaning company will meet with all areas to discuss needs.
- Security - The hospital will request an additional security position.
- Physician behavior
- New retirement program
- The Children’s Hospital venture with Peds/PICU
- Ratios in DOU and Med Surg - Should DOU be 1:3 and Med Surg or other areas handling remote telemetry patios 1:4?
- Retrofitting of the hospital
Acuity Committee
Members will soon study acuity in each unit at the hospital. The Committee plans to review acuity in DOU and the ER January 25. Please contact Jim Owen, PACU, or Union Representative Judith Serlin if you would like to get involved.
If you have staffing concerns, remember to fill out an Assignment Despite Objection form or ADO form for each occurrence. Many of the units have ADO forms located on the bulletin boards or you can download a form from the SEIU 121RN website at www.seiu121rn.org/useful-links.