2006 Resolution - 004

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SUBJECT: Magnet Program: Labor Criteria

Introduced by: UAN Executive Council

Action: Passed 3/16/06

WHEREAS, the UAN Executive Council adopted the Labor Criteria for Awarding of Magnet Status on March 26, 2003, with the goal of ensuring that, “ANCC’s Magnet award process will include labor criteria and instill a stronger staff nurse voice in the appraisal process with the result that a Magnet award equates to highest quality health care delivered in a premier work setting;” and

WHEREAS, the Executive Council directed UAN to discuss these issues with ANCC within two months; and

WHEREAS, the UAN presented its proposed Labor Criteria at a meeting with ANCC on May 13, 2003, and the parties agreed that ANCC would respond to the UAN proposals by October 2003; and

WHEREAS, ANCC made changes to its manual which weaken the protections for unionized RNs; and

WHEREAS, years after UAN’s initial request, meetings of the UAN Task Force and ANCC were held on January 13, 2005, and October 14, 2005, to discuss the Labor Criteria, where UAN raised concerns over the changes to the manual, negative experiences at certain Magnet facilities, the role and training of appraisers, and the fundamental role of collective bargaining representatives as the elected, collective voice of RNs; and

WHEREAS, ANCC stated that the Magnet Recognition Program is not a labor program (does not have the same mission as a labor organization) and that ANCC does not want to appear to be unduly influenced by a particular organization or union, and that it is not prescriptive in its approach to awarding recognition;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the UAN Executive Council and the National Labor Assembly thank the UAN Magnet Task Force for their work on these issues. The Task Force includes: Barbara Conklin from the New York State Nurses Association, Carolyn Esposito from the New York State Nurses Association, Susan King from the Oregon Nurses Association, and Jean Ross, UAN Director, from the Minnesota Nurses Association; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NLA supports the efforts of the UAN Executive Council and the UAN Magnet Task Force to communicate to ANCC the importance of using labor criteria for awarding Magnet status because these criteria protect the working conditions of staff nurses and ensure the delivery of the highest quality health care possible; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UAN National Labor Assembly objects to the ANCC’s changes in the manual which weaken the labor criteria and to ANCC’s failure to incorporate significant labor criteria in the award process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NLA supports the efforts to date of the UAN Executive Council and the UAN Magnet Task Force to work with the ANCC to establish such criteria for the awarding of Magnet status; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the 2006 NLA directs the UAN Magnet Task Force to reiterate our strong support for these criteria to the ANCC and encourage them to expeditiously adopt a process for their inclusion; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the 2007 NLA receive a report on the Magnet program and consider taking a position on the program at that time.