List of Skills/coverage

[lmark@una.ca]

Hi can there be a review of what a day looks like for Rn staff during strike?

My unit staffs 2 RNs and 2 LPNs for 25+2 beds.

The unit is typically split by needs during the shift. ex. 24 bed everyone has 6. RN staff are worried they will be responsible for 12 patients in this situation moving forward since the LPNs are on strike. Would we have our 6 as usual and the other 12 patients are the ESWs? NUEEs? What tasks do they have to perform when they are here? do we still do all patient care like bath ect? will we be expected to feed and do their pills for their patients?

Thanks

[kris.vanapeldoorn@una.ca]

Good afternoon,

The AUPE ANC Essential Services Agreement prohibits the Employer from having our members do the work of striking members. However, we realize the line is very blurred in many areas.

This ultimately means that the working shift for an RN within the UNA bargaining unit should in essence look like any other shift from the perspective that you should be performing the scope of care and duties you normally would, but should not result in increasing your workload or taking on the work of another bargaining unit that may be legally striking or locked out. If our nurses are asked to do something that they think is a striking workers duty, to go to management. If they don't normally pick up shifts, now is not the time to start. If a casual nurse only works a shift a week, now is not the time to pick more than that.

Who does the duties of the bargaining unit classifications legally on strike? Those duties should be performed either by the employees/classifications identified as essential workers, or the Non-Union Exempt Employees who are deployed to provide front line support.

If bathing a patient, feeding, or giving pills to patients is a regular part of your duties, then you should continue doing so. If changing bed linens, emptying trash, or taking patients between units for treatment care is not a routine part of your tasks, then you should not be taking on those duties. If, however something cannot wait for a manager to either do the task or to direct an RN to do it, then the RN should first and foremost ensure patients are not harmed.

If a manager directs them to do work they are not oriented to, they follow a similar process. (question, confirm order, contact UNA). It is very important they let us know.

If a manager directs an RN to do something that they know is LPN/HCA work, they question "are you directing me to do LPN/HCA work? If the manager says yes. Then do the work and communicate that to UNA via this Forum, the Local, a PRC, the LRO or by calling in to our offices.

As usual, we are operate under a 'work now, grieve later' process, but put it on managers to make the hard decisions first.

Kris Van Apeldoorn
Duty LRO