NEW YORK NURSE: July/August 2011
The NYSNA Board of Directors has approved the following proposed bylaw amendments for presentation to the 2011 Voting Body.
New language is underscored.
Insert the following language at the end of current paragraph (a) so that the paragraph reads as follows:
1) A member is one:
a) who:
1) has been granted a license to practice as a registered nurse in at least one state, territory, possession or District of Columbia of the United States or is otherwise lawfully so entitled to practice and who does not have a license under suspension or revocation, or
2) is represented by NYSNA in the following all-professional collective bargaining units: Brooks Memorial Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center, and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, and
b) whose application for membership has been accepted in accordance with association policy, and
c) who has paid the current dues and any other dues, fees, and financial obligations as required by current policy, and
d) who has not been suspended or expelled by this association.
[There are no changes to b), c) and d).]
Rationale: This amendment would give the 350 non-RN members of NYSNA’s all-professional collective bargaining units full membership rights. Many of these LBU members occupy elected unit leadership positions and actively support the work and advancement of the E&GW program and the association. The non-RN members of these units assisted in the advancement of the nursing profession when they agreed to be represented by NYSNA. Management in the facilities would not allow the RNs to be organized by NYSNA unless all of the professional staff were organized. Managements’ position was that the other professionals would not be willing to join a nurses’ union. NYSNA prevailed in three facilities. Those non-RNs are now requesting full membership rights.
Proposed New Section 3. A member shall not hold more than one appointed position simultaneously unless the member’s particular expertise is essential to more than one committee or council.
Renumber Current Section 4.
Proposed New Section 5. Simultaneous Service
A member shall not hold more than one appointed position simultaneously unless the member’s particular expertise is essential to more than one committee or council.
Renumber Current Section 6.
Rationale (for proposed amendments to Articles VI and VII): The proposed language is taken from current board of directors policy on appointments. It is based on the belief that the interests of the association are best served if the maximum possible number of individuals participate in the affairs and activities of the association.
Proposed New Section 5.
Members shall be eligible to serve in only one elective position in NYSNA at any one time. Elective positions of NYSNA are: board of directors (officers and directors at large); nominating committee; election committee; executive committees of practice focus groups; Delegate Assembly; executive committee of the Congress of Local Bargaining Unit Leaders.
Rationale: To avoid inherent conflicts of interest, members should be limited to serving on only one of the stated elected bodies at a time.