Part of our Bargaining Team's work late last year resulted in an agreement designed to discourage management from pulling break relief RNs into patient assignments. We all know that when that happens...breaks don't.

The penalties go into a pool of money that gets divided quarterly by affected break relief RNs. Click »»» here for details.

BUT HERE'S THE THING: money doesn't go into the pool unless we report the incidents.

If we collectively report at least 16 incidents in a three-month period, that's $12,500 divided amongst the affected break RNs. But if we report more than 300 incidents, that amount jumps to $125,000. 300 incidents amounts to about three break RNs given assignments per day in the hospital.

So here's how to enforce:

1. Fill out »»» this form if you spent 25% of your scheduled shift in patient care. (For example, if you work a four-hour scheduled break relief/resource shift, but spend one of those hours with a patient assignment other than breaking another RN, then please complete form.)
2. The form must be filled out before start of your next shift.
3. Submit the completed form to your supervisor and to your Union Rep/Organizer.
4. Keep a copy of the completed form for your own records.