Mandatory Overtime Agreement in New York!

[1199SEIU RN]

Today NY Governor Paterson announced a three-way agreement on legislation to restrict the use of mandatory overtime for RNs and LPNs in New York State.

1199SEIU nurses are thrilled, after 6 years of lobbying, letter writing, and petition signing. This is a huge victory for nurses and patients in New York State, and demonstrates the effectiveness of nurses when we unite around an issue!:loveya:

[lindarn]

In the LTC facility where I work on weekends, they are blatantly circumventing this law. They have a policy in effect that states that the nurse holding the narcotic keys has to stay for the next shift if they were short staffed on that unit (there are 2 nurses to all units on the evening shift, which is 3p to 11p). My shift is 7a to 7p every other Sat/Sun. On Saturday, they did not schedule a nurse from 7pm to 11pm at all- so I was mandadated to stay. On Sunday, they left a nurse that was terminated on the schedule, knowingly, and I was mandated to stay from 7pm to 11pm. I am filling out a department of labor complaint form. They are going around the nursing home like hotcakes. Several nurses are filling these forms out and handing them into the department of labor. They are making no effort at filling the staffing holes, either. We cannot be the only place this is happening at, either.

As long as you are all giving in to their games, they will continue to circumvent the law. Just say NO!! Give report to the charge nurse and leave. No one can take advantage of you with out your permission. JMHO and MY NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

[NurseJeanne]

It's happening where I work too. People have been mandated, and are reporting it (filling out the form) to the Dept of labor. One nurse told me she also called them and they said they will be investigating. Mandating due to the facility's lack of proper staffing and not having a nursing coverage plan in place, will catch up with them. I heard from a supervisor at another facility that the "mandators" are going to be in trouble. What exactly that means, I don't know, but what they're doing at your facility, PMR1027, is definitely a violation of that law. I hope it stops soon!

Make sure everyone reports them, keep those forms available.

I'm wondering how widespread the mandation is since the law took effect, and how long it will take for the DOL to do something about it.

I'll update if I hear anything. PMR1027, please let us know if you hear anything from the DOL after you file the report. We have to fight mandation of nurses for the safety of our patients and ourselves!

[kcochrane]

Our facility so far is playing by the rules. I haven't heard how the other facilities in the area are doing with regards to the law.

Keep us posted on how the state handles the violations.