After more than a year of good-faith negotiations, we are pleased to report that South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) have reached a tentative agreement on a collective bargaining agreement.

1199’s NP membership must vote to ratify the contract for it to take effect. The union will schedule a ratification vote shortly. SSUH management is unable to disclose the details until the 1199 NP membership ratifies the agreement.

We believe the proposed collective bargaining agreement is fair for our NPs and will ensure the shared continued commitment to providing our patients and the community safe, quality health care. We also believe that it recognizes the unique professional role that NPs play in delivering patient care.

Thank you for your patience and support throughout the negotiation process. Your service and dedication are greatly appreciated.

Yesterday, South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) met virtually with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) for our 18th negotiation session.

SSUH and 1199 each spent a significant portion of the day working internally on the remaining economic and non-economic proposals. As we near the end of these negotiations, our focus is on ensuring we come to terms on a fair and fiscally-responsible contract that recognizes each nurse practitioner’s unique experience and professional role in caring for patients. We are optimistic that as result of both parties’ hard work yesterday, we will be able to reach a final agreement at our next session on Feb. 26.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to sign up for text message updates about the status of negotiations by texting SSNP to 77295. Text messages are factual, infrequent and brief, and contain a link to the full update residing on this website.

This past Friday, South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) met virtually for our 17th negotiation session.

It was a very productive session, with both SSUH and 1199 making significant movement to find common ground on many of the biggest unresolved economic issues, including wages and benefits. Importantly, both parties reached key agreements, demonstrating our mutual recognition of your unique professional role in caring for patients.

Although we made tremendous progress, we remain separated on a few key terms and conditions, including experience differential. SSUH is mindful that these negotiations have been going on for over a year and wants to ensure that our NPs receive their much deserved wage increase as soon as possible. We’re very hopeful we will be able to reach a final agreement at our next session on Feb. 10.

Yesterday, South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) met virtually with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) for our 16th negotiation session.

During the negotiations, we were pleased with the union’s flexibility. That open-mindedness enabled us to reach an agreement on the issue of seniority, including how it relates to hiring and lateral transfers. Seniority has been one of the most challenging topics thus far in the negotiations, and we are encouraged by our progress. We’re optimistic that this momentum will continue at our next session on Jan. 29.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to sign up for text message updates about the status of negotiations by texting SSNP to 77295. Text messages are factual, infrequent and brief, and contain a link to the full update residing on this website.

Yesterday, South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) met virtually for our 15th negotiation session.

The session started out similarly to previous sessions. The hospital presented proposals to 1199, and the union flatly rejected any contract terms tailored to your elevated professional role in the delivery of patient care and your close collaboration with the medical staff and hospital leadership.

After extensive dialogue and elaboration, the assigned federal mediator was able to facilitate with the parties, resulting in the offer of a meaningful counterproposal being made by the union to the hospital. We are hopeful that this will lead to further flexibility and constructive dialogue at our next session on Jan. 12.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to sign up for text message updates about the status of negotiations by texting SSNP to 77295. Text messages are factual, infrequent and brief, and contain a link to the full update residing on our website for SSUH NPs.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season.

Yesterday, South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) met virtually for our 14th negotiation session.

We put proposals across the table and engaged in a spirited dialog that magnified several key differences of position. In the end, our progress was once again hindered by the union’s refusal to acknowledge the clear and compelling differences in professional status and clinical level of nurse practitioners (NPs) as compared to other 1199-represented team members in the hospital.

While there are many examples that would demonstrate the parties’ differing positions, the one that was discussed in detail yesterday relates to leaves of absence (LOA) and staffing agency coverage. Specifically, the union is proposing a maximum LOA period that exceeds the amount of time we would be permitted to use agency NP support by up to four times. Our challenge is balancing our team members’ needs with those of our patients. 1199’s proposals have the potential to negatively impact SSUH’s ability to deliver the highest quality patient care.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to sign up for text message updates about the status of negotiations by texting SSNP to 77295. Text messages are factual, infrequent and brief, and contain a link to the full update residing on this website. You may also opt out at any time.

We look forward to making further progress at our next negotiation session on Dec. 14, and will keep you updated.

This past Friday, South Shore University Hospital and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East met virtually for our 13th negotiation session.

During this session the parties engaged in a productive and respectful dialogue, and exchanged proposals on a range of topics. Both parties continue to work hard to find common ground, and were able to reach two tentative agreements, including one on weekend scheduling. We look forward to making further progress – and hopefully solidifying some new tentative agreements – at our next negotiation session on Nov. 30, 2020.

Please continue to stay informed by visiting this website and signing up for text message alerts by texting SSNP to 77295. 

Negotiations between South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) and the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) labor union continued yesterday as the parties met virtually for our 12th negotiation session.

Through a constructive dialog, we were able to reach a new tentative agreement on the process for requesting and approving vacation time for nurse practitioners. Although we fundamentally disagree about how best to approach these negotiations, it remains clear that both parties are working hard to find common ground, and we look forward to continuing to tackle some of the more difficult issues that separate us at our next negotiation session on Nov. 6.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to sign up for text message updates about the status of negotiations by texting SSNP to 77295. Text messages are factual, infrequent and brief, and contain a link to the full update residing on our website for Southside NPs. You may also opt out at any time.

Thank you for your continued interest in the negotiations.

South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) and the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) labor union met yesterday for our 11th negotiation session.

The parties’ mutual desire to advance the negotiations led to three tentative agreements on staffing agency usage, NP recruitment procedures, and the amount of holiday and personal time provided to NPs.

While we are pleased by the constructive nature of the negotiations, we still continue to have disagreement that prevents us from reaching an agreement. Recognizing the inherent differences in professional scope and job responsibilities between NPs and other 1199-represented team members at the hospital, our intent remains to negotiate a new contract that is tailored to the unique and evolving role our NPs play in delivering patient care. The union continues to resist this approach.

If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to sign up for text message updates about the status of negotiations by texting SSNP to 77295. Text messages are factual, infrequent and brief, and contain a link to the full update residing on this website. You may also opt out at any time.

Thank you for your continued interest in the negotiations. We will follow up with you again after our next session.

Southside Hospital and the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (1199) labor union met today for our tenth negotiation session.

We were pleased that the union responded to all 11 of the proposals we presented to them in our previous session. This sparked a robust dialog on a range of subjects, including shifts, holidays, and vacations.

Still, it remains clear that the parties have differing views on many of the topics at hand. Our intent all along has been to create a new contract that is truly customized to reflect the unique professional role and status of our nurse practitioners. This requires us to recognize the inherent differences in professional scope and job responsibilities between NPs and other 1199-represented team members at the hospital — while also taking into account how the role of our NPs may continue to evolve in the future.

For timely updates about the negotiations, visit our dedicated website for Southside NPs. We look forward to making further progress at our next negotiation session on Sept. 25, and will keep you updated.