The following story about mandatory flu vaccinations was posted in the February 16 edition of the Nurse Alliance Roundup, a publication of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare.

The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) had a subgroup working on the issue of what happens when a facility is not 90% or more vaccinated -- can the employer mandate it? Can refusal to comply be met with disciplinary action including anything from being forced to wear a mask for the entirety of a shift to termination?

The subgroup working to prepare the recommendations was comprised of many professionals from different work backgrounds. But ironically that subgroup was replaced (with no warning) by a "leadership committee," including an employee of a Icagen, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pfizer. The Icagen employee was adamant that Icagen is not part of Pfizer, and that he did not work for Pfizer and never had. (A simple Google search is all it took to see that this guy was, for lack of a better term, full of it.)

Our nurses and Bill Borwegen, SEIU's Occupational Health and Safety Director, stopped the NVAC from taking a vote on the first day of the two-day hearing. Throughout the hearing, Bill respectfully interrupted people when they were blatantly lying to one another and the community. He showed them copies of procedural laws they were breaking ... and called them out about the hijacking of the first group by the new "leadership committee." "We hadn't had a meeting in more than five months," he told the Committee. They fumbled and rumpled and talked under their breaths ... and frankly, Sisters and Brothers, it was a brilliant moment of union work where we linked up to fight the right fight.

In the end, the NVAC tabled making a decision until the next day so that they could review various items that were brought to the table. That was a major victory because the vaccination issue is not so simple.

In fact, there are many nuances to the story around mandatory flu vaccination -- more so than this space allows. Due to the fact that our nurses linked up with Bill, we were able to insert language about the need for education while stripping language that would have asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to fine hospitals that fail to report flu vaccination rates. We were able to successfully beat back the original language that told employers to adopt a full-blown flu shot mandate to one that now asks employers to "strongly consider" a flu shot requirement if they don't achieve a rate of 90% with voluntary efforts, while also adopting employee exemptions for medical and "other reasons." In addition to the language changes made in the recommendations, the union has been successful in getting OSHA to come out publicly with very strong language opposing any type of flu vaccine mandate.

SEIU District 1199 members visited the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston to meet with legislators and discuss issues facing workers during a lobbying day.

Mary Day a member who works at Princeton ResCare got involved in politics at age eighteen and was excited about the opportunity to meet with her legislators.

"McDowell County, where I live, was a place that seemed to be overlooked." Day said. "It was important to elect the right representatives to get things done."

Day began volunteering on campaigns to help elect legislators who would see that her community was properly represented.

Members attended a legislative session in the House ofDelegates then met with their representatives to discuss issues affecting their jobs and their patients.

During the legislative meetings, members discussed mandatory overtime and how forcing a health care provider to work long shifts could affect patient health. As providers are forced to work shifts as long as 24 hours, fatigue could affect a health care workers ability to provide quality health care.

SEIU District 1199 member, Dwayne Thornton met with his representative to discuss HB 4113, a bill that would stop municipalities from issuing an occupation tax on workers.

Thornton said the meeting was effective and he had a great time talking with legislators. "I gained a lot of knowledge," said Thornton, who would definitely recommend other members get involved in the process. "I can't wait to do it again."

CHARLES TOWN, WV - Employees of Willow Tree Manor late Wednesday evening voted to accept a new three-year contract that allows workers to continue to provide the highest quality care and wellness for the residents of the nursing home.

"We pride ourselves on working together to do all that we can for the residents of Willow Tree Manor," said Debbie Brode, an employee of Willow Tree for 24 years and Executive Board member of the Service Employees International Union, District 1199. "This agreement will allow us to provide quality care to our residents and affords us the opportunity to earn a livable wage to support our families during these hard economic times."

The new three-year contract provides employees with a wage increase each year, improved starting pay for new employees and enhanced contract language.

SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH represents nearly 100 employees at Willow Tree Manor, a 104-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located in Charles Town, West Virginia.

SEIU District 1199 WV/KY/OH has been bargaining for a contract with ResCare since July. After several months of negotiations and countless hours of hard work, SEIU 1199 has a contract with the company; covering 1,500 ResCare Employees in West Virginia and 1,000 ResCare Employees in Ohio.

As the nation faces tough economic times,
bargaining for a contract was difficult. Money
in Ohio is a no-win situation, as Governor
Kasich wants to cut services. The financial
situation in West Virginia isn't as bad, but still
finances are tight. Despite these trying times, members have worked hard and done a fantastic job of negotiating a contract with the company over the past several months.

Contract Accomplishments Include:

• One Contract for Both States - which provides more bargaining power

• The right for part-time workers to receive all benefits faster

• Better job bidding language

• Stronger L&M language

• West Virginia members will receive 10% increase the first year and 0% the second and third years of the contract.

• Ohio members will receive a longevity bonus the first year and a guaranteed 1% the second year and 0% the third year of the contract.

• If the state raises the reimbursement rate, members will receive the weighted average of that increase.

Hundreds of people rallied with labor leaders at Huntington City Hall to demand jobs in their community. With the state's unemployment rate stuck at 8.1% for two straight months, Huntington area residents are demanding politicians create Good Jobs Now.

SEIU District 1199 Executive Vice President, Kathy McCormick; West Virginia AFL-CIO President, Kenny Purdue; and RWDSU International President, Stuart Appelbaum stood with members of the community to pressure leaders to focus on creating jobs for the area.

"We have to send a message to our elected officials in Charleston and Washington. The people in our community are tired of political games, we want good paying jobs for our community and we want them now," said Kathy McCormick, Executive Vice President of SEIU District 1199. "This community cannot wait for another election to get back to work. It's time for the politicians to do what we sent them to do and that is create good jobs."

As people in the Huntington area continue to struggle to find good jobs, citizens are demanding their leaders invest in their future.

The Associated Press reports Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin has won a special election for West Virginia Governor, defeating drilling executive, Bill Maloney.

Tomblin became acting governor following Joe Manchin's election to the US Senate to fill the seat of the late Robert C. Byrd. Now, Tomblin will serve the remaining year of Manchin's term and will be up for reelection in November 2012.

SEIU Distrcit 1199 Members Pam Payton and Paula Brainerd delivered a contribution to Jack Conway, Candidate for Kentucky Attorney General.

On Saturday, September 24, 2011, SEIU District 1199 members and their families enjoyed the Union's Solidarity Picnic in Huntington West Virginia.

Activities included a games for kids, barbecue, dancing, and voter registration.

Sandy Gordon, a member employed at Cabell Huntington Hospital was recognized for her hard work with a plaque.

Workers celebrate the new three-year contract as a victory for donors and consumers of blood products and services.

HUNTINGTON, WV - Blood service workers at the American Red Cross of West Virginia have announced the ratification of a new three-year contract that allows employees to provide quality services and preserve the safety of blood products.

"We stood together with our co-workers for over two years, working without a contract, in hopes that this day would come," said Susie Wade, worker at the West Virginia Region of the American Red Cross. "This contract will allow us to protect donors and consumers, while giving us the ability to provide for our families as well."

While the details of the agreement are confidential, the new contract does provide for annual wage increases, affordable healthcare, increased shift differentials and additional training incentives that will improve the quality of services delivered by staff.

Employees of the West Virginia Region of the American Red Cross had been working without a contract since April 14th, 2009. This collective bargaining agreement covers 62 employees and will remain in effect until October 2014.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2011

CONTACT:
Joyce Gibson, WV Deputy Director
Phone: (304)654-0824 | jgibson@seiu1199.org