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Important Notice for UPN Members Working in the Health Sector

If you are turned down for PCA benefit improvements effective June 1 – please resubmit any unpaid claims on or after June 24.

Technical issues relating to the updating of information to our health benefits carrier may have delayed approval of some early claims.

Details HERE

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Riverview Hospital Closure Plan

As those of you working at RVH should be aware, the Employer has now drawn up their detailed plan for the transfer of all Riverview patients to the Health Authorities and the subsequent closure of Riverview Hospital in 2012. With this in mind, it was felt that it would be important to remind you of the various opportunities that will be available for you as the Employer rolls out their plan. To view the most current RVH redevelopment materials, click on the link below.

Riverview Hospital Redevelopment

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“Survey Said” – Do you agree?

Whether or not you were one of the UPN Members who responded to the recent anonymous online survey, you still have a chance to review the survey’s findings and express your opinion.

As part of the information-gathering process conducted to support development of our new Strategic Plan, the UPN Council commissioned an online survey of UPN members in February and March, 2010.

Despite a number of reminders, the response was relatively low at eight percent, or 76 members out of a possible 958. If you were one of the 76 who took the time to participate, THANKS!

The report on survey results was presented to Council in April. Now, it’s available on the HERE for your review.

This report provides:

Details and analysis of responses for each of the survey’s questions; Discussion and a summary of findings for each of the survey’s major themes/topics; and Recommendations for Council “next steps” in the strategic planning process based on the survey results.

Although the survey was anonymous, the demographic data provided indicates that the majority who provided answers to the survey were relatively more involved in the union than the average member. In terms of age and tenure, respondents tend to be experienced Psychiatric Nurses and were more likely than average to be long-standing Union members. As a result the survey responses do not provide a reliable representation of the opinions of a representative proportion of members. So while we can’t say for sure that the results reflect the opinions of all members, they none the less provide valuable input to Council’s planning process.

Keeping the limitations of low member participation in mind, the survey found that those who provided answers to the anonymous online questionnaire:

1. Support the UPN engaging in a strategic planning process
2. Believe that Council has selected a set of shared values that are supported by members who completed the survey. The final list that comes forward for member approval might be more widely understood and accepted if additional definitions and clarification are provided.
3. Agree on strategic priorities for UPN activity in the near future, both in the area of advocating for and protecting members and in terms of promoting and enhancing recognition of Registered Psychiatric Nursing as a profession.
4. Think that the new Strategic Plan should place a strong focus on priorities relating to advocating for and protecting members, including:
• Increase benefits and/or protect benefits in existing contracts against efforts to erode them
• Increase wage levels and/or protect wage levels in existing contracts against efforts to erode them
• Protect and grow jobs and maintain contracts
• Improve communication with membership, including more timely responsiveness.
• Respond to members’ concerns effectively
• Respond to members’ concerns in a timely fashion
5. Think that the Plan should also place a strong focus on priorities relating to enhancing recognition of Registered Psychiatric Nursing as a profession, particularly with respect to the involvement of younger members, and including:
• Promote the unique value of the psychiatric nursing profession and increase public appreciation for the unique role of RPNs
• Promote Psychiatric Nursing as a career/encourage people to enter the profession

You can download your copy of the survey report from the Union website. That’s where you’ll also find an invitation to share your views and further comments. Whether you took part in the survey or not, your Council would like to know:

1. Which survey results do you agree with, and why?
2. Which survey results do you disagree with, and why?
3. Is there anything else you’d like to Council to keep “top of mind” while developing the UPN’s new Strategic Plan?
4. Thinking ahead, what could be done to generate a higher participation in member surveys? If you didn’t take part, please tell us why.

There are two ways to comment: you can send a note to the UPN office in the mail, or you can submit your comments electronically to upn-strategic-plan@telus.net. All the comments received will be collated and reviewed by Council as development continues on the Strategic Plan.

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