Ontario Nursing Funding: Nursing Retention Fund NRF

1
Ontario Nursing Funding Nursing Retention Fund
(NRF) Nursing Graduate Guarantee (NGG)

• June 2008
• CUPE Research

2
Nursing Retention Fund (NRF)

• Conditions for Funding
• Costs related to training, education, wages,
  benefits, or a percentage in lieu of benefits
  for nurses while in training
• Up to six (6) months
• As an alternative to layoffs and/or reduction in
  nursing hours and
• No other source of training funding.

3
Applications (NRF)

• By any person who operates a public hospital
  within the meaning of the Public Hospitals Act.
• Signed by the RPN union executive provided that
  no member of the RPN union executive is a RPN, a
  frontline (CUPE) RPN.

4
Application Sections (NRF)

• Hospital Nursing Health Human Resources Plan
  document a nursing shortage, for instance
  current unfilled vacancies 3 months, evidence
  of over-time stats, documented sick time (FTE
  equivalent), evidence of agency use, evidence of
  projected vacancies.

5
Application Sections cont. (NRF)

• Approved Service Change
• Succession Plan
• Funding Application

6
NRF Due Date

• February 15, 2010

7
NRF Began

• Spring 2006.

8
For more information

• www.nursingretentionfund.ca

9
Nursing Graduate Guarantee (NGG)

• The program is designed to provide full-time
  employment for nurses who have recently
  graduated, first through positions that are
  additional to complement, then through permanent
  full-time work.
• However, there is no recognition of the seniority
  of the current part-time and casual CUPE nurses
  who are waiting for full-time employment.

10
NGG

• Hiring a new graduate falls under 2.01 of the
  OCHU central agreement (hiring temporary
  employees).
• If an NGG performs duties that are normally
  performed by full-time, part-time or casual CUPE
  RPNs who are on leaves, locals should grieve
  under 2.01.
• If part-time or casual RPN hours are reduced when
  NGGs are hired, locals should grieve under
  Article 9.09.

11
NGG

• All permanent vacancies and new positions need to
  be posted under Article 9.05 and awarded to the
  senior applicant able to meet the normal
  requirements of the job.
• If NGGs are hired full-time before current
  part-time and casual CUPE RPNs, a local should
  grieve under 9.05.

12
NGG Dates

• The NGG Steering Committee began in March 2007
  led by Tom Closson.
• The funding has been approved for this fiscal
  year (April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009).
• The funding for fiscal year 2009/2010 has not yet
  been announced.
• as/cope491
• June 4, 2008