Union Stewards
What you need to know
Union Stewards, or Representatives, are the front line of our union working everyday as leaders, organizers, educators, problem solvers, activists, intermediaries and communicators. Stewards provide an essential link between union leadership and members, and also serve as vital liaisons between members and management.
Any member can be a union steward. Stewards are a central part of our union organization and provide a great opportunity for any member looking to become more involved in the union and take an active role in representing and defending the interests of fellow employees.
Your rights as a Union Steward
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) outlines specific protections with regards to stewards while acting in their official union capacity. Union stewards are specifically protected during grievance meetings, investigatory or disciplinary meetings, when requesting information, and during contract negotiations.
Stewards are to be treated as equal to management, with an equal voice at the table and the explicit freedom to exercise the duties of the office without fear of reprimand or retribution of any kind. Union stewards are afforded the following basic rights, which enable them to perform their official duties in the workplace effectively and without obstruction.
Right to the same union representation as any member
Right to investigate grievances
Right to timely and accurate information
Right to interview witnesses
Right to make objections and/or caucus during grievance meetings
No reprisals from management for exercising role as Steward
Right to TALK about your union at work
Right to maintain a union bulletin board in your unit
Your responsibilities as a Union Steward
There are always union leader resources available to you, including stewards from other units.
The first major responsibility of a union steward is to fairly represent your fellow union members. In the event there is a grievance, union stewards act as intermediaries between the aggrieved employee and appropriate management.
Union stewards act as a safe harbor for aggrieved employees to bring their questions and concerns as the first step in the grievance process. Stewards are required to keep any information shared by a grievant personally, or expressed during a grievance meeting, 100% confidential.
The work of a Union Steward
Attend a steward training.
Be available to coworkers for support and assistance with union, workplace or contract matters.
Complete grievance forms with the grievant and fax it to the Union Office at 802.658.7673.
Fax notes from meetings with management to the Union Office at 802.658.7673.
Maintain and manage a reliable phone and email tree/communications list of your unit.
Keep your unit bulletin boards updated.
Who to contact
Call the Union Office at 802.657.4040 or email info@vfnhp.org if you are interested in becoming a union steward and would like to be scheduled a steward training – we will accommodate your schedule if you can’t make the monthly training.
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Summary of Technical Professionals Tentative Agreement & Voting Info
Dear Technical Professionals, We reached a Tentative Agreement on our next contract! Before I get into the details of the agreement and next steps, I want to say how grateful I am to organize with all of you. The dedication that so many of you showed, especially our...
2/21 Technical Professionals Bargaining Update
We had our second to last scheduled bargaining session last night, and our first with a federal mediator present. Turnout at last night's meeting was incredible with Technical Professionals packing the room from the outset. This is exactly the kind of energy and...
2/15 Technical Professionals Bargaining Update
We had our 6th bargaining session last night during which we put across 6 proposals, Mgmt responded to 12 of our proposals, and we tentatively agreed on 3 Articles. We remain significantly far apart on economic articles with Mgmt failing to offer competitive...
2/8 Technical Professionals Bargaining Update
2/8 Technical Professionals Bargaining Update We had our fifth bargaining session with Management last night during which we shared 15 counter proposals and the Administration gave us 9. Outside of Management's proposals regarding call pay and differentials, we...
1/30 Technical Professionals Bargaining Update
We had our fourth bargaining session with Management last night, putting across several counters and also receiving responses from the Administration to several proposals we had shared at prior sessions. Here are the highlights of what was discussed last night:...
Technical Professionals Bargaining Kicks Off
Dear members, Technical Professionals contract bargaining began on Wednesday, and our Bargaining Team made 30 proposals across the table, while Management offered 27 proposals. Here are some of the highlights: Differentials- We proposed increased differentials...
2022-2023 Nurse Wage Scale
https://vfnhp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/FY22-FY24-Nurse-Wage-Scales-1.pdf
Summary of 7/5 Nurse Contract Tentative Agreement
VFNHP-Tentative-Agreement-Flyer-1Download
Ratified Nurse Contract Agreement
VFNHP-Nurses-FullTA-7-5-2022
Management’s Offer as of 6/15
Management did not offer any changes to this package at the 6/22 Bargaining Session. VFNHP- 615 Bargaining UpdateDownload
6/1 Bargaining Update
Nurses and Techs gathered in the McClure lobby to show solidarity with our Bargaining Team ahead of the 6/1 bargaining session. Contract negotiations have stalled, as we did not reach agreement at this week's session. VFNHP has given a package for the hospital to...
5/11 Nurse Bargaining and Incentive Update
Last night, the VFNHP Bargaining Team spent over 3 hours hearing the same thing from management: The hospital will not agree to any financial proposals beyond the $1.3M for their charge and preceptor differentials proposals. Seven proposals, including increasing all...
VFNHP Bargaining Update 5/4/22
Contract bargaining update 3Download
Nurse educator proposals 4/27/22
Educator Side Letter (1)Download
Bargaining Update #2
Contract bargaining update 2Download
VFNHP Proposals 4/6/2022
Dear members, Nurse contract bargaining began last night, and our Bargaining Team made 34 proposals across the table, while Management offered 11 proposals, only one of which was economic (Charge/Preceptor differential). Here are some of the highlights: Increased...
Negotiations for all
At the opening of VFNHP-Nurse negotiations with the UVMMC administration, all of the VFNHP proposals were designed to:* Protect and improve patient care * Provide safety and respect * Improve benefits and compensation to recruit and retain nurses and support...
2022 VFNHP Nurse Bargaining Platform
VFNHP-Nurse-Bargaining-Platform-FlyerDownload
Members Speak out for Safe Staffing and Quality Patient Care as staffing crisis continues.
TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS CONTRACT WINS
Articles 22-Wages, 23-Differentials, & 24 On-CallMarch 2023-Minimum of 6.5% base wage increase for all Technical Professionals. Go here for the full wage scale.-Minimum hourly wage: $19.66 -On-Call increases to $6.00/hr-On-Call bonus-Moving all Technical...
VFNHP Technical Professionals 2/21 Supposal
If Mgmt agreed to these proposals (including ours from above as well) Wages: Here is our 2/21 Wage Proposal. Differentials: Here is our 2/15 Differentials Proposal. On-Call/Call In: Here is our 2/21 On-Call/Call-In Proposal Article 2-...
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