October 30th Update

A lot has happened since our last update and we have received many questions. The biggest question: How does the "joint venture" with HFH affect our union formation? The answer is that it doesn't. We can still form our legally recognized union as planned. The only thing that may change is who we are bargaining with when it's all said and done. So we will continue to move forward! One thing is for certain as we enter this new "joint venture": It is more important than ever for us to have a seat at the table where decisions are made that directly impact us.

We have made a ton of progress over the last month, and continue to make great strides toward our union formation. Our numbers are growing every day and we are getting very close to taking the next steps! We are always looking for additional people to be more actively involved, so please reach out if this is something you would be interested in. There are still a couple units that we are looking for someone to take on a "leader" role, and help coordinate efforts with us.

ECONOMICS REFRESHER - Recent Cost of Living Adjustments (not raises)

A raise and a cost of living adjustment are not the same thing. COLA’s are designed to cancel out inflation and keep your spending power the same. A raise is an increase based on things like merit, service time, and demand that increases your spending power.

Ascension’s last couple wage increases are far less than the recent historically high inflation rates, meaning at the end of the day, even with these COLA pay increases, we are able to afford less. So while increases of a couple dollars an hour may seem significant to some people (don't forget about the insurance premium increases they snuck through at the same time), keep in mind that you actually have less money for the exact same goods and services you could afford just a couple of years ago. We have all essentially taken a pay cut and should not become thankful and complacent just because they’re giving a little bit of it back.

We can fight for significant RAISES as part of our first union contract. Know your worth.

And remember that a union is more than just about pay increases. We will fight to correct many factors that affect our nursing careers and job satisfaction.

UAW Update:

It has definitely been a contentious few weeks of UAW and automaker news, that plays a big part in our community. GM was the last of the Detroit automakers to reach a deal this morning. The final deals do highlight some of the powers of collective bargaining. 25% wage increases, higher starting pay, and increasing pay caps for employees that have been around for many years. Don't you think we deserve the same? While the wage increases are grabbing headlines and being reported on every news channel and website, remember to stay tuned and read into other agreements reached as part of the new contracts, such as benefits, vacation time, and things that affect job satisfaction, recruitment, and retention.