May 19, 2008 is the next Membership meeting. We will be voting on the budget and also holding elections that day. The meetings will be at 8am, 2pm and 4pm, the place will be announced.

The new Retreat contract was signed on Monday, April 7.  We are waiting to get the copies back from the printer.  As soon as we receive them, we will distribute them to all our members.  Stay tuned...

Rhode Island's new mandatory overtime law became effective on Tuesday, March 4.  The new law prohibits hospitals from forcing nurses and nurse's aides to work beyond their scheduled shift, except in true emergencies.  

The UNAP has prepared a variety of materials to educate members about their new legal rights -- including posters, fact sheets, badge cards, mandatory overtime documentation forms, and additional questions & answers.  For printed copies of these materials, contact the UNAP at 401-831-3647.

If you believe your rights under the new mandatory overtime law have been violated, please complete a mandatory overtime documentation form and call the UNAP as soon as possible at 401-831-3647.

On Monday, September 24, over 100 health care workers and allies gathered outside the RI State House to urge the Legislature to override Governor Carcieri's veto of a mandatory overtime bill that would prohibit hospitals from forcing nurses and nurse's aides to work beyond their scheduled shift, except in true emergencies. 

UNAP President, Linda McDonald, called the Governor's veto a "travesty," and accused the Governor of turning his back on patients and caregivers in Rhode Island.

 Click here to read Providence Journal coverage of the event.

 Click here to send an email to your State legislators urging them to override the Governor's veto. 
To urge the House leadership to override the veto, call 401-222-2466. 
To urge the Senate leadership to override the veto, call 401-222-6655. 

This past June, the Rhode Island House and Senate unanimously passed legislation that would prohibit hospitals from forcing nurses and nurse's aides to work beyond their scheduled shift, except in true emergencies.  Unfortunately, this legislation was vetoed by Governor Carcieri.

However, the Legislature has the option to override the Governor's veto, and we need your help to persuade them to override the veto this fall. 

It is extremely important that your legislators hear from you on this issue.  To send an email to your State legislators urging them to override the Governor's veto, click here.  To urge the House leadership to override the veto, call 401-222-2466.  To urge the Senate leadership to override the veto, call 401-222-6655. 

To read highlights of the mandatory overtime bill, click here.  To read the complete mandatory overtime bill, click here.