SEIU Local 1000 member bargaining unit representatives recently negotiated an agreement with DMH on the process of redirections of primarily RNs and LVNs to the units. Below are the key points of the agreement and also contact information for questions that may come up throughout this process. 

2009 - 2010 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:   

• Contract Negotiations and Ratification
• Statewide Election - All statewide officers elected backed by SEIU Local 1000
• Vote of 'NO CONFIDENCE' for the Receiver
• Recognized in the Political arena and noticed as a strong movement within the State
• Able to move our Unit into a Leadership role within SEIU Local 1000
  
• Have developed as an active participant at the highest level in the Receiver's Office
• Have been active in Legislative Hearings, Budget Committees, and Department Discussions
• Development of Assignment Despite Objection Forms
• Development of Supervisor Evaluation Forms
• Working to Develop a Continuing Education Class for RN's and others in State Service

Hundreds of Napa State Hospital workers from SEIU Local 1000, AFSCME Local 2620,  CAPT and UAPD rallied on Jan. 19 to demand proper health and safety conditions.
 
The recent murder of psychiatric technician Donna Gross and an assault that left rehabilitation therapist George Anderson with a factured skull have highlighted an ongoing pattern of violent attacks on hospital employees by patients. Hospital managers and the state of California have refused to take remedial action to correct workplace dangers.

By Kerana Todorov

With calls for "Safety Now!," 350 Napa State Hospital employees staged a two-hour lunchtime rally Wednesday to demand better security measures.

Employees and union representatives spoke in front of the main gate, which was decorated with bouquets of flowers in memory of Donna Gross, the psychiatric technician slain Oct. 23 in an attack allegedly by a patient.

By Rebecca King Morrow, RN, SEIU Local 1021

On October 23, 2010 there was tragic news in the San Francisco bay area. A psychiatric technician, Donna Gross, was killed on the job at Napa State Hospital. A mentally ill patient at the facility allegedly strangled her. Napa is a state hospital for the mentally ill that has 2,400 employees for 1,160 patients, of which 995 are forensic patients referred by the courts. Her death was a sad reminder of the unspoken danger health care providers face.

Read more at SEIU.org >>

State employees demand that Department of Mental Health provide more security after Napa State Hospital worker killed on the job

Local 1000 has intensified its campaign for increased security for employees at state mental hospitals after Donna Gross, a psychiatric technician, was killed on her break on Oct. 23.

Local 1000 represents nine different bargaining units and over 95,000 state employees. The power of these numbers enables us to make workplace improvements that make life better for everyone.

This is a summary of the tentative agreement for Unit 17. To learn more about all tentative agreements, visit the Contract Ratification page.

Join Receiver Clark Kelso and Chief Deputy Secretary Sharon Aungst for a discussion about the current and future activities of California Prison Health Care Services and the Division of Correctional Health Care Services.

A message from Nancy Lyerla, chair of bargaining unit 17

State Registered Nurses have received evaluations from supervisors for years, and now the tables are turned--it's time for some state nurses to evaluate their bosses.

The results of this online survey will be sent to union staff to help us track the performance of supervisors from around the state. We will use the data while omitting names of reviewers. We hope this information will help track the facilities and supervisors who do well or need improvement. It is important that your answers are honest and clear.

Take the survey now >>