Read on for a series of updates from UMass Memorial that are important to SHARE members . . .
The ARE deadline has been extended to August 31st. This is an important Joint Commission requirement. Please be sure to complete them prior to the deadline.
Family Fun Day, September 10th 3:00pm-7:00 – for details, please check for an email sent from UMass Memorial on August 2nd. Be sure to register to reserve your spot.
The new Tuition Reimbursement and loan repayment assistance policy in the SHARE contract negotiated last Fall increases the amount of money available to a full-time SHARE member from $2000 to $5250 per year. In addition, what’s eligible for reimbursement has expanded from just college courses to include certificate programs, and to include student debt repayment.
For more information, read the full new contract language regarding tuition reimbursement. To talk to someone with your questions, call the UMass Memorial Benefits Contact Center @ 508-334-8511.
ICYMI, UMass Memorial Hospital recently announced that Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester is offering two affordable homeownership opportunities in Sturbridge and Worcester for individuals and families within specific income brackets. If you are in need and meet the eligibility criteria, this could be an excellent opportunity for you. UMass Memorial Health is proud to have partnered with Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester on these projects to support more affordable housing in our region. Through our Anchor Mission, we provided investment to support the construction of the Sturbridge home, and our physicians volunteered in the construction of the Worcester home. Read more on the SHARE website . . .
Habitat for Humanity home nearing completion in Sturbridge
If you’re not making use of Union Plus benefits, you might be missing out. Union Plus can help with home ownership through the Mortgage Assistance program and the Save My Home Hotline, not to mention personal loans and legal assistance. By being a member of a union, you’re also eligible for discounts negotiated on your behalf — from flowers to car rental to movie tickets — and much, much more . . .
Congratulations to Hilda-Gail Achampong, the first-ever recipient of UMass Memorial’s Bee Award. Hilda was selected from over 150 nominees to receive the award, which recognizes outstanding work going above and beyond to support patients and exemplify standards of respect. She is pictured here with fellow SHARE members and South6 PCAs Chris Franklin and Hellen Itemere. See more on the SHARE blog. We’re very happy for you, Hilda!
If you’ve been around our hospital for very long, you probably know that SHARE has a thing for chocolate. And if you’re still on the lookout for something for your sweetheart, it’s not too late to pick-up some thing union-made. Find chocolates, flowers, spirits and more brought to you by union employees. Plus, this Valentine’s season, two hundred lucky winners will get a free chocolate bar made by AFSCME members at Rabble-Rouser Chocolates. Enter now before the drawing closes on February 28, 2023, for your chance to win!
If you’re curious what a career in Respiratory Therapy is like, you can hear what the job is like right here at UMass Memorial from SHARE Respiratory Therapists, and learn about the training program from Keith Hirst, Respiratory Therapy Program Coordinator & Director, Quinsigamond Community College at any of the following sessions:
This Wednesday! FEBRUARY 15 — NOON-1PM — ZOOM MEETING
FEBRUARY 22 -- 7P-8P — ZOOM MEETING
FEBRUARY 23 — 2P-2:55P AND 3:35-4:30P — ROOM S1-123, UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
THE RED BOOKS
Since SHARE members ratified our most recent agreement with the hospital, many have asked when new red Contract booklets will be available. We’re still working with the hospital to incorporate and format the new additions, and hope to have those available to distribute soon.
PLEASE NOTE: Because our recently-completed negotiations focused primarily on wages, the vast majority of the policy language remains the same from the 2018 agreement, so if you’ve got one of the old red books, hold on to it! It’s still accurate.
Learn about new additions to our agreement with the hospital here.
EVERYTHING IS ONLINE
The red books can be handy, and we like them, too. But did you know that all of the information, including our newest agreements and wage tables, is available online?
We’re still working to fold all of the policies into a single document, but you can already use the search tools on the online version of the contract materials to quickly find what you’re looking for. In fact, you can also use the site’s search tools to find information anywhere on the SHARE website. Plus, you can bookmark, download, and print what you need.
FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
Additionally, you can find answers to many Frequently Asked Questions about the Contract and about Raises. We revisit some of the most popular subjects on the SHARE blog, updating the information as we go along, and explaining useful background in greater detail.
Of course, for help with any question, you can always contact your local SHARE Rep, or the SHARE office (508-929-4020).
As SHARE Members made clear in the 2022 Contract Surveys, raises are SHARE’s top priority for negotiations. Last week, the SHARE Negotiating Team put our first raise proposal on the table to the hospital. Our proposal aims to:
Take inflation and the rise in cost-of-living expenses into account.
Make sure SHARE members make progress every year as their experience grows.
Catch up to what other employers are paying so that UMass Memorial can hire and fill positions, so SHARE members aren’t so short-staffed.
Deal with the fact that the rising minimum wage in Massachusetts, added to the national staffing shortage, makes it especially hard to retain staff.
Recognize SHARE members’ hard work during COVID and now – SHARE members are Always Essential!
Read more about what’s happening SHARE and UMass Memorial negotiations, including our wage discussions, in this blog post.
Informed members keep our union strong. The SHARE Organizing staff invites all members to join online in the next of our series of information meetings to talk about how contract negotiations are going. We encourage you to bring your questions, enjoy your lunch if you want, and appear on camera if you can.
What: Negotiations Update, with a special focus on remote work
When: Wednesday, August 17, 11:30am-1pm
Where: Online, via Zoom: link here
President Biden is soon expected to sign into law a set of reforms known as the Inflation Reduction Act that promise some good news for American workers. According to the Washington Post, the new rule would, among other things, “prevent huge spikes in the cost of health insurance for roughly 13 million Americans. It would limit seniors’ drugs costs at $2,000 a year. And it would place a cap of $35 a month on how much diabetics enrolled in Medicare would pay for insulin, a lifesaving medication.” Read what AFSCME President Lee Saunders says about the package, and why it’s good for union members, here.
So many SHARE members have already signed the 2022 SHARE signature poster in support of a strong contract. Thank you! To ensure the best possible raises and contract, we encourage all SHARE members to sign on to this statement of our needs and values. SHARE Reps and Organizers will continue to bring signature forms through the hospital buildings and answer questions about negotiations. You can also call the SHARE office (508-929-4020) to make arrangements to sign.
The SHARE Union / 50 Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01604 / Phone: (508) 929-4020 / Fax: (508) 929-4040