These are incredibly challenging times for nurses. INA’s RC-23 negotiating team has been working hard to win safety measures and other benefits to address working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The team was able to successfully negotiate important safety provisions for all nurses, as well as premium pandemic pay for nurses not covered under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This is consistent with how other bargaining units under the State of Illinois are currently eligible for the premium pandemic pay. The premium is a 12{f3e6c8b6221fcc4b8784a51a36efd8fe4cddb8a7a15932922a99d1453fe0508c} increase to an employee’s base salary for days worked between April 16th, 2020 and May 31st, 2020. We are currently in discussions with CMS to extend the premium pandemic pay through June 15th, 2020.

In addition to the pandemic pay, nurses excluded from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act who worked the full time from April 16th through May 31st, 2020 will be granted an additional personal business day; this will be added to their accrued benefit time January 1st, 2021. To be eligible for this benefit, nurses must have worked the full time and not taken days off during this period. Currently, we are in discussions with CMS to shorten this time frame to May 1st through May 31st.

If you have questions regarding the premium pandemic pay or other provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding outlining the safety measures, pay and personal day, please contact your Staff Specialist.

**Update**

On June 9th your RC-23 Leadership met with CMS to further discuss the premium pandemic pay. CMS said they would extend the premium pandemic pay to June 30th, 2020.

Check out media coverage of RC-23’s pandemic pay with WTAX News Radio and Capitol Fax.