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AFT conclave to consider resolutions on overtime, tuition forgiveness and ending shift-work injuries

Writing resolutions is often the first step in making social change. The Federation will be doing the same in July, when nurse delegates to the AFT convention — supported by the entire UFT delegation — offer three resolutions aimed at ensuring fair wages in the event of overtime, guaranteeing that more men and women continue to enter and stay in the profession, and take steps to guarantee safety for those working shifts. Note that this year’s statewide convention, held March 25-27, 2004 at the New York Hilton, saw our elected RN leaders succeed in gaining adoption of resolutions on Workers Compensation and Care of Diabetic Children in the Schools, both of which were central to guiding UFT lobbying efforts statewide. (The text of the resolutions appeared in the Winter 2004 Vital Signs, which can be found online at www.UFT.org). The proposed resolutions deal with:

Overtime Rights for Health Professionals

Whereas, the Bush Administration has proposed and will soon implement changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act which will remove the right to overtime pay for many workers.
Whereas, all workers earning a salary between $23,660 and $100,000 per year are at risk of losing overtime. The test for these workers is whether they satisfy the job responsibility and education standards, and the new rule weakens these standards, making it easier to deny overtime to these workers.
Whereas, the new rule may consider a worker a “professional” based upon on-the-job training instead of an advanced degree, as required by the old rule. And an administrator now only is required to perform “exempt” job duties a small percentage of his or her time, instead of at least 80 percent of the time, to lose overtime rights.
Whereas, for the first time in history, hourly workers may also be denied overtime pay. Although licensed practical nurses, for example, will continue to receive overtime pay, the implications for registered nurses, who typically are paid on an hourly basis, are disastrous. Under these rules, employers could force Registered Nurses to work overtime without receiving extra pay.
Whereas, with overtime pay eliminated, hospitals and other health-care providers have little incentive to end mandatory overtime and hire more staff to ensure safe staffing levels and improve the quality of patient care.
Resolved, that the AFT work to negotiate contracts which provide overtime for members.
Resolved, that the AFT work to restore the rights of workers impacted by these changes.

Recruitment of Health Care Professionals

Whereas, there exists a critical shortage of health professional in job titles such as registered nurses, lab techs, respiratory therapists, physical therapist, speech therapist and many more.
Whereas, there is clear, unambiguous data demonstrating that safe ratios of patients to health professionals are essential for successful, safe care.
Whereas, each person deserves quality health care in our health-care institutions at home, in clinics or wherever such care is provided.
Whereas, there exists unemployment of many capable persons throughout the country.
Resolved, that the AFT support the establishment of funding for tuition forgiveness, retraining and scholarship money for health professions jobs.

Prolonged Shift Work and Injuries

Whereas, the risk of injury associated with long work hours may be influenced by the length of time of work hours and breaks.
Whereas, research shows the risk of injury increases exponentially with time and is more than doubled at the end of a 12-hour shift compared to an eight-hour shift.
Whereas, research also indicates that breaks have an enormous impact on injures but more data is needed.
Whereas, research is needed of shift work, days off and successive shifts.
Resolved, that the AFT support the establishment of a study on Shift Work and Injuries.