2000 Resolution - 008
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Subject: UAN Legislative Platform
Introduced by: Minnesota Nurses Association
Action: Adopted June 22, 2000
WHEREAS, The United American Nurses should support legislative initiatives in the best interests of the membership, and
WHEREAS, The legislative and regulatory actions impact the rights and working conditions of represented nurses, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the United American Nurses adopt the following legislative platform; and therefore be it further
RESOLVED, That the United American Nurses representative to the American Nurses Association Committee on Legislation articulate United American Nurses support of legislative initiatives that impact the rights and the best interest of the membership during Committee on Legislation meetings.
Platform:
WE SUPPORT NURSES AS WORKERS
As unions, CMAs and CMA collective bargaining programs represent nurses as workers. Therefore we support initiatives that would benefit nurses and that demonstrate solidarity with all workers.
- Living Wage (not minimum wage)
- Labor Law Reform and Reform of NLRB Process to Make Right to Organize and Seek First Contract More Accessible for Workers
- Reform of Laws Which Create Barriers to Union Advocacy and Political Action
Equal Pay for Equal Work/Comparable Worth
- Public Education and Legal Enforcement to End Gender and Sexual Orientation Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace and in Society
- Public Education and Legal Enforcement to Racial Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace and in Society
- OSHA rules and funding to support compliance programs to improve workplace health and safety conditions.
- Oppose multi-state nurse licensure compact as currently proposed by National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
WE SUPPORT NURSES AS PATIENT ADVOCATES
As unions our ongoing legal and moral duties include assisting nurses to advocate for workplace conditions which support high quality nursing care, and defending nurses from employer actions which put nursing practice or nurses' licenses at risk. Therefore we support initiatives that support the role of the RN and protect patient advocacy activities.
- Require health care employers to comply with state licensing statutes, including nurse practice acts, and to recognize and support the role and scope of practice of the RN and LPN.
- Institute and enforce whistle blower protections in HCFA rules.
- Work with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and State Boards of Nursing to education regulators regarding workplace conditions and to require consideration of workplace conditions and policies in disciplinary proceedings.
WE SUPPORT NURSES AS HEALTH CARE CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS
As unions, we also represent nurses in their capacity as health care consumers and patients. Therefore we support initiatives to improve health care access, safety, and quality for nurses and for all people.
Health Care Coverage Reform
- Initiatives to Ensure Universal Health Care Coverage
- Education and Mobilization of Nurses Regarding Single Payor
- Regulation of Health Care Insurance Plans and HMOs to Protect Those Who Have Coverage
Health Care Delivery Reform
- Revision of Health Care Financing Agency (HCFA) Conditions of Participation to Include Safe Staffing Requirements
- Replacement of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) with publicly accountable regulatory agency (or at the least require HCFA to validate JCAHO survey process and accreditation reports)
- Require HCFA, JCAHO or other publicly accountable agency to institute requirements regarding confidentiality, whistle blower protections, full disclosure of accreditation reports, random unannounced inspections and random selection
- Require health care employers to comply with state licensing statutes, including nurse practice acts, and to recognize and support the role and scope of practice of the RN and LPN.
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