Washington State Nurses Association -Local Units

Seattle/King County Health Dept. - Supervisors

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Contract

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Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Job Titles & Rates of Pay and Work Outside of Class - February 2008 (PDF)

Rules

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Contacts

Local Unit Officers

Chair:
Gerrie L. LaQuey, RN
206-731-2550
laquey@u.washington.edu

Vice-Chair:
Judith A. Volkers, RN

Secretary/Treasurer:
Jane W. Simpson, RN

Grievance Officer:
Open

WSNA Nurse Representative

Kathi Landon, RN
206-575-7979, Ext. 3015

News

11/25/09 - Recent messages from the County related to furloughs have caused a lot of confusion!

Here are the facts:
In July 2009, the County presented a blanket proposal to the Coalition of unions for furlough in 2010.

The Coalition responded that because the 2009 furlough had been applied inequitably and because the County would not assure the Coalition that all money saved by furlough would be used to prevent lay-offs, the unions did not wish to bargain together as a Coalition.

WSNA told the County we would be willing to discuss furlough as an individual union if the County wished to make a proposal.

After six days of contract negotiations all proposals have been presented by both WSNA and the County. The County has not proposed furlough to WSNA for 2010.

08/18/09 - JHS Information Requests- Temporary Restraining Order Granted!

As we recently communicated with you, our WSNA attorney has been in contact with the County and attorneys from other groups working to protect the private information of JHS nurses from former inmates who have submitted a formal request for this information.

WSNA attorneys were successful in getting a Temporary Restraining Order, to stop the release of information. The County is now required to hold off on releasing any information until August 31, 2009, pending another hearing date which is scheduled for August 28th.

Watch for more information coming soon.

FUTURE UPDATES If you want to receive updates in the most timely manner please email your WSNA nurse representative, Christine Himmelsbach, MN, RN at chimmelsbach@wsna.org with your personal/ home email address and future updates will be sent to you via email.

08/13/09 - Letter from WSNA to Benjamin Leifer

August 13, 2009

Benjamin Leifer
Chief Administrative Officer
Seattle King County Public Health
401 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1300
Seattle, Washington 98104

Re: Public Disclosure Request by Inmates Joel Zellmer, Myron C. Wynn for Employee Information

Dear Mr. Leifer:

This is in response to your e-mail of August 7, 2009.

The Washington State Nurses Association has received the information we requested in our letter of July 24, 2009 to Seattle King County Public Health director David Fleming. We note that the King County Public Disclosure Manual does not incorporate the amendments to the public disclosure law that were passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Christine Gregoire, effective March 2009, specifically addressing public disclosure requests by inmates.

The nurses employed at King County correctional facility have well-founded concerns that disclosure of their full names to inmates may lead to inmates discovering their home telephone numbers and addresses, thereby jeopardizing the employees’ personal safety and the safety of their families and loved ones. These concerns are legitimate, particularly as both of the inmates who have requested this employee personal information are charged with first degree murder. Indeed, the nurses and WSNA have conscientiously protected their full names from disclosure to inmates for more than twenty years, despite the County’s efforts to compel such disclosure. AS the Public Employment Relations Commission and the Washington Court of Appeals have recognized, disclosure of nurses’ full names to inmates is a mandatory subject for collective bargaining.

Accordingly, WSNA hereby requests that the County negotiate regarding the nature of the information to be disclosed in response to these public disclosure requests by inmates. Please contact Maria Pettit in our office to arrange a mutually-convenient date and time to meet.

We further request that the County postpone disclosure of any personal information concerning nurses employed in County correctional facilities until we have had an opportunity to meet and confer with County management regarding the vital issues of privacy and employee safety involved in this matter.

Sincerely,
Timothy Sears
General Counsel

08/01/09 - What is WSNA doing about the latest Public Disclosure Requests?

Letter to Dr. David Fleming sent, awaiting a response.

Watch for more information.

Current Issue

Short Staffing = No Breaks = Unsafe Patient Care

The issue of meal and rest breaks has plagued nurse for many years. It has never been about nurses not wanting to take their breaks. It is about real concerns related to staffing and the ability to provide SAFE Patient Care. It is about hospitals having enough STAFF to meet the requirements of the law to provide rest breaks.

Missed meal and rest breaks have a direct relationship to short staffing which can lead to unsafe patient care. Missed meal and rest breaks are a direct result of the lack of commitment to provide adequate staffing. Missed meal and rest breaks force you to work exhausted and lead to increased medical and medication errors, thus putting both Your Patients - and YOU - in jeopardy.

We don’t think it is unreasonable to expect to be able to stop and rest for 15 minutes every 4 hours … do you?

As a Registered Nurse working in Washington:

Did You Know?

You are entitled to an unpaid meal period of one-half (1/2) hour if you work five (5) or more hours.
You are entitled to one (1) fifteen minute break halfway through every four (4) hours of work.
You are entitled to compensation if you are required to remain on duty or in your unit during your meal period.
You are entitled to compensation for your missed rest breaks.
Short staffing results in you not getting your breaks and in unsafe patient care.

WSNA Is Fighting For You!

Filed grievances at numerous facilities on missed breaks, Settlement reached at Virginia Mason Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham.
Won Arbitration decisions on missed breaks at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Yakima Regional Medical & Heart Center.
Pursuing the Department of Labor & Industries to change State Regulations on missed Breaks for Nurses.

What You Can Do!

Follow your contract, if you miss your meal/break period, document on your time card and keep your own personal record of missed breaks.
Complete an ADO form and distribute to your manager with a copy to your local unit chair and your WSNA Nurse Representative
To file a complaint with the L & I, notify your Nurse Representative at WSNA for the paperwork and instructions.

Membership

Become a Member

Want to have a voice in your local unit? Want to be able to vote on your contract? Join WSNA today! Simply download and complete the WSNA Membership Application form, and return it to us by fax or mail.

Have you moved? Changed your name? Changed your FTE? Gone on LOA?

Don't forget to notify WSNA to ensure that your membership information is correct and that you are paying the right amount of dues. Your employer may not inform WSNA of these changes in a timely fashion… It’s up to you!

It's simple. Just complete the Change of Information form and return it to us by fax or mail.

Help us keep your records accurate by letting us know right away when there are changes.

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