Convening of union nurses: December 1st 2nd

Program

Thursday December 1st
Time / Title / Description / Speakers / Location
11:30am / Registration
12pm –1:30pm / Welcome/Lunch/Plenary / Joint Plenary Session: What Now For Union Nurses? / Ann Twomey, HPAE-AFT; Dian Palmer, SEIU / Neilson Dining Hall, Rectangular Room
1:30–1:45pm / Break
1:45–3:15pm / Breakout Sessions / Building Stronger Unions: Internal Union Building and New Member Orientation / Research over the last twenty years on new union member orientation (NMO) programs provides evidence that such programs, when conducted effectively, have a number of critically important benefits for unions. The evidence is so strong that a case can be made that, dollar for dollar, NMOs are the best investment a union can make to build a stronger organization. Among these benefits are higher levels of union commitment and greater participation in union activities. The research has also provided insight into the most effective strategies for doing successful NMO orientations. This session will review the evidence on the impact of NMOs and the best practices that have been identified by this research. The session will also illustrate these best practices by reviewing case studies of several successful NMOprograms. / Paul Clark, Director, School of Labor and Employment Relations, Pennsylvania State University and Benjamin Woods, Researcher, Jobs with Justice;
Whitney Yax, CWA / Auditorium
Labor-Management Partnerships for Quality and Union Building / As the healthcare landscape continues to change, healthcare unions have an important role in shaping the future of healthcare delivery systems. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about recent initiatives to improve patient care, control costs, create workforce development initiatives, and mobilize frontline staff. This workshop will examine the critical role that nurse unions need to play if these activities are to be successful. Participants who attend this workshop will also have an opportunity to examine how well structured labor-management partnerships become an important process for mobilizing members and building stronger locals. / Cathy Stoddart, SEIU; Diane Lataille, SEIU; Dawnette McCloud, AFT / Room 166
Healthcare Consolidation / Hospitals and hospital systems are consolidating at a rapid pace often with very disruptive consequences for nurse, bargaining unitsand labor relations. / Donna Phillips, Labor Council Chair, Alaska Nurses Association; Kyle Arnone, Senior Associate, AFT Nurses and Health Professionals / Room 115
3:15–3:30pm / Break
3:30–5pm / Breakout Sessions / Room 1
Multi-Union Legislative Coalitionsfor Safe Staffing / In NJ and PA, unions have collaborated to push for safe staffing legislation. Participants will talk about how to build these coalitions, and the opportunities they create. / Bernie Gerard, VP, Health and Allied Professional Employees Union; New Jersey Assemblyman Daniel Benson; Maria Refinski, NJ Nurses Union; Michele Liebtag, CWA; Douglas Placa, JNESO; and Deborah Bonn, Nurse Alliance of PA / Auditorium
Nurses and the Opioid Epidemic / Learn about responses to the opioid epidemic from nurses on the frontline who have taken action to protect their patients and themselves, from changes in the workplace to national legislation. / Daniel Hannan, AFGE Local 0007 / Room 115
Dinner on your own- there are restaurant suggestions for dining in and around New Brunswick in your packet. Take this time to dine with a nurse from another union.
Friday December 2nd
Time / Title / Description / Speakers
8:30 / Breakfast / Auditorium
9:00–10:30am / Plenary / The Effects of the Next Presidency on Nursing / Are we facing a complete roll back of the Affordable Care Act and what can we do about it? Panelists will discuss the likely future challenges as a new legislative agenda takes root. / Pat Polansky, AARP; Mark Hannay, Metro NY Healthcare For All; Sally Tyler, AFSCME / Auditorium
10:30–10:45am / Break
10:45 – 12:15pm / Breakout Sessions / Transforming How We Talk About Collective Bargaining / “Collective bargaining” is one of the most basic terms in the labor movement and also one of the most misunderstood. Jobs with Justice, the National Education Association, and the AFL-CIO commissioned research to develop clear and compelling messages that transform and expand the climate for collective bargaining and collective action. During this session, you will hear key results from this research, explore how to make a compelling case for expanding the rights of working people to act collectively, and discuss ways to put these learnings into action. / Liz Cattaneo, Communications Director, Jobs With Justice / Room 115
Nurses and Public Health Crises / Hear from nurses who have addressed challenges such as climate change and ebolain a number of ways including negotiating new contract language, and participating in community campaigns. / Ashley Conway,Teaching Instructor, School of Management and Labor Relations; Katie Oppenheim, Professional Nurse Council of the Michigan NA / Room 166
Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare / This participatory workshop will examine the underlying causes of workplace violence in healthcare facilities, and introduce systems of safety and accident prevention. It will allow participants to analyze their facility’s workplace violence prevention program and identify steps needed to improve their program. Participants will also be introduced to OSHA and NJ'sViolence Prevention in Health Care Facilities Actregulations. / Cecilia Gilligan Leto, Project Coordinator, NJ Work and Environment Council / Auditorium
12:15 – 1:30pm / Lunch / Eat, mingle and swag swap. Eat with nurses from one of the dozen other unions present, and swap union swag with your new friends (bring T-shirts, lanyards, key chains, stickers and anything else—the sky’s the limit)!
1:30 –3pm / Breakout Sessions / Community Campaigns / This session will explore the importance of involving community partners for successful campaigns, including new organizing campaigns. Breakout session leaders will discuss, using their own experience and expertise, their roles in their respective organizations and relevant campaigns; explore “best practices” for building coalitions with community partners; and facilitate a discussion/brainstorming session so nurses attending the workshop can take away with them a better understanding of community-supported campaigns and coalition building with community partners / Kirk Laubenstein, Coalition for Economic Justice; Anne Marshall, SEIU / Room 115
Bargaining for the Common Good / This workshop will introduce you to an approach to collective bargaining that brings community interests to the bargaining table and helps to build supportive relationships with members of the public and other progressive organizations. The approach is increasingly being used by unions in education, healthcare and beyond. / Marilyn Sneiderman, Director of Center for Innovation in Worker Organization, Rutgers University; Candice Owley, WI Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals / Auditorium
Decision-making, Conflict Management, and Negotiation / The healthcare environment is rife with a variety of conflict and requires skilled decision making and constant negotiation. This workshop will provide creative tools in problem solving and conflict management needed in a healthcare setting. Through role-play, hands-on exercises, and group work, leaders will learn strategies and tactics to reduce conflict in the workplace. The goal of this workshop is to work with leaders to develop a “dispute resolution tool box” including skills in informal negotiation, interest-based bargaining, and mediation. / Carla A. Katz, Esq., Instructor, School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University, Labor Studies and Employment Relations / Room 166
3:00–3:15pm / Break
3:15 – 4:45pm / Breakout Sessions / Bullying / Bullying of nurses is rampant. This workshop will discuss the sources and impact of bullying and how we can respond. It will also shed light on how to recognize bullying at work, and offer ways to defuse its negative consequences. / Donna Fountain, PhD, PHCNS-BC, Associate Prof., Long Island University and Adjunct Instructor, Kean University / Auditorium
Mindfulness, Healthcare, and Leadership / Mindfulness is the skill of “paying attention in a particular way – on purpose, in the present moment, and non- judgmentally.” This skill is transforming healthcare and renewing leadership in organizations. The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was developed as behavioral medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and has been administered in hospitals in the U.S. and globally. Neuroscience shows that MBSR changes the brain and enhances its functions - enabling patients to improve their health outcomes and healthcare professionals to optimize quality of care by reducing their stress and burnout. Through mindfulness training, leaders have a clearer vision and make better decisions for their organizations. This workshop is highly experiential - introducing the neuroscience of mindfulness and its application in healthcare and leadership through mindfulness exercises. / Dr. Tracy Chang, Associate Professor, School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University / Room 115
4:45 – 5pm / Closing session and discussion of next steps / Auditorium
5:00pm / End

This activity has been planned and implemented by Rutgers School of nursing, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This activity is awarded 10.5 contact hours. (60 minute CH)