PRNs ruled not union at SRMC; pay raise stays

Union and SRMC continue to argue publicly despite contract being reached

RIO RANCHO — Do PRN’s belong in the AFT United Health Professionals Union bargaining unit as…

Union, hospital reach an agreement

RIO RANCHO — As of Oct. 13, a contract between UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center and Unit…

SRMC union holds public forum with lieutenant governor as more claims of retaliation arise

The day before the United Health Professionals of New Mexico and Sandoval Regional Medical C…

SRMC, union agree to bargain meeting next week

After months of back and forth between University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Ce…

Judge rules SRMC must bargain with union

A district court judge denied a request Thursday from the University of New Mexico Sandoval …

Union says SRMC nurse was fired after speaking out about conditions at the hospital

On Aug. 19, Samantha Hines, an emergency nurse at the University of New Mexico Sandoval Regi…

AFT Union rejects UNM Hospital’s request to negotiate

Once again, the United Health Professionals of New Mexico division of the American Federatio…

SRMC union says it accepts wage increase, demands to bargain with UNM hospital leadership

On Aug. 9, The University of New Mexico Hospital announced wage increases for all of its emp…

Labor Board says union reps can access Sandoval Regional Medical Center

Another chapter was recently written in the ongoing battle between the United Health Profess…

UNM Hospital and some SRMC health care workers to receive raises

The University of New Mexico Hospital announced wage increases on Aug. 9 for all of its empl…

RIO RANCHO — After the Bernalillo County District Court ruled that pro re nata (PRN) nurses do not count as regular public employees, the Public Employee Labor Relations Board ordered that they should not be included in the Sandoval Regional Medical Center United Health Professionals union.

The PELRB determined Nov. 19 that SRMC is to determine whether it is appropriate to have a bargaining unit without PRN employees.

“Following that determination, staff shall conduct a card check excluding PRNs and either issue a Certification of Representation or schedule an election as may be appropriate under the Act,” the order reads.

The district court found that PRNs at SRMC are not regular employees and are therefore not public employees under the Public Employee Bargaining Act.

SRMC quickly responded to these orders in a press release.

“These two decisions are particularly important because negotiations were stalled for years over a disagreement about whether PRNs could legally be included in the bargaining unit or not. UNM Hospital long held that New Mexico’s laws did not permit freelance employees in public unions, while AFT’s leadership believed it did,” the hospital said.

UNM Hospital CEO Kate Becker says they are grateful for the clarification.

“This brings resolution for our employees at SRMC,” she said. “We want to do what’s right for our employees and what makes most sense for our hospital’s operations.”

SRMC and the union already agreed to a contract that temporarily included PRNs with the understanding that they would revisit the subject when the ruling had been issued. Now, the hospital expects to finalize the agreement without PRNs included. However, the pay raise given to the union employees and the PRNs in October will remain for everyone.

“I’m grateful to everyone who has worked so hard on this effort. Our employees have been patient through this long and complicated process. This clarification will allow our team to move forward as we continue our mission of providing high-quality and safe care to our patients and our community,” SRMC President Jamie Silva-Steele said.

Stephanie Ly, AFT deputy senior director of organizing and field services, says the union wishes the hospital had voluntarily recognized PRNs.

“We have appealed the case and, in the meantime, we will continue to ensure their voices are part of the solution for improving patient care,” she said.