The Hicksville Nurses' Association voted to join UPSEU in February 2011 after having represented themselves through a paid private attorney for a number of years. "We found that the attorney wasn't as available as we would have liked and negotiations didn't equal that of other bargaining units agreements," said Unit President Donna Mazzeo. "Since joining UPSEU we have had immediate response to our questions and concerns, as well as a professional negotiator."

The agreement covers annual wage increases in each of its four years (including retroactive) with no changes in normal step movement. It also included additional increases to the top step and the 12, 16, and 20 year longevities. "The negotiating team was adamant that those without step movement should receive something extra and they were willing to do what it takes to make that happen," remarked Regional Director/ VP Kim Nowakowski, who negotiated the agreement.

In addition to negotiating retroactive increases and longevity improvements, the agreement avoided step freezes or lags and also included a few new entitlements such as lab coats and computers to enable the unit to fulfill their professional responsibilites.

"We were worried when we saw that the clerical unit, represented by the teacher's union, had accepted an agreement with no retroactive pay for the first year, and freezes or delays of their step movement. Kim was effective in persuading the District that our circumstances were different than the other bargaining units and was also creative in figuring out a solution to our problems, while at the same time making it sellable to the schoool board," said Mazzeo.

Special thanks to the negotiating team of Gail Hunker, Christine Kani, Donna Mazzeo, Veronica McFeely and Sharon Tennenbaum for a job well done. The agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by the membership.