Our hospitals are as busy as ever, and SHARE is hopping. In case you missed it, check out this update of What SHARE’s Working on Now, which summarizes a baker’s dozen of our current projects and trends in the work that we’re doing together. And there’s plenty more . . .
Paid Family Medical Leave & Short Term Disability
SHARE has been asked questions about how Short Term Disability insurance (STD) and the new Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave Law (PFML) will affect SHARE members starting in January. Many of these answers have been developing over the past several months, and we’ve worked to understand and collect them together. Read more . . .
Jennifer Perchak & the AFSCME Free College Benefit
Jenn Perchak has been one of the SHARE pioneers in AFSCME’s Free College benefit program, having already earned a spot on the Dean’s List, and now her first college degree. This opportunity is open to all SHARE members and their families. SHARE has heard several really great reports about this benefit, and we’re very happy to know that it’s making a difference. Read what Jenn has to say about the experience.
This Thursday: LatinX Listening Session
Hosted by UMass Memorial with hospital CEO Eric Dickson, this Webex will focus on questions about creating a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system. Learn more about this event, and register in advance to join the conversation on November 19 at 4:30.
Observational Assistants, and Improving Deployment in the Next Surge
During the first COVID surge in our hospital, SHARE members highlighted that being deployed as a One-to-One Observer was tough on schedules. Since then, over 170 respondents replied to our recent One-to-One Observer Survey. As a result, SHARE members can volunteer for what works for them more, and our hospital will be better staffed. Thank you for your help to keep our union and our hospital strong.
AFL-CIO Pushes Federal Hazard Pay for Front Line Caregivers
Recent communications from the AFL-CIO, an umbrella organization of over 12.5 million union members, including SHARE, point out that, with COVID-19 on the rise again, unprecedented numbers of people filling hospitals across the country. There’s not time to wait for the upcoming political transitions before providing more federal support to front line workers. “We need the U.S. Senate to pass the HEROES Act now to provide real relief to front-line workers and the unemployed,” they write. And we can all take action to urge our Senators to do that.