St. Joseph Medical Center

Attention:  St. Joseph Medical Center Nurses

Contract Negotiations will be starting soon.

The current contract between WSNA and your Local Unit expires October 31, 2012, so it is time for the 2012 Negotiation Survey.  This survey will assist the team in preparation for contract negotiations.  Your input is critical in determining our priorities as we head to the bargaining table.  Take a moment to complete the 2012 Negotiation Survey, click here.  It is vital that WSNA and the team know your issues and concerns prior to starting negotiations, so please complete this survey by June 30, 2012.

If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering to be appointed to the negotiating team, please contact Linda Burbank at 253-318-1515 or lpb@burbanklawoffice.com or Dian Davis 253-922-2528 or ddavis9660@msn.com.

Special Letter from WSNA President Julia Weinberg on WSNA’s new Campaign for Patient Safety

You have another chance to take advantage of the EIB to PTO Conversion Contract Benefit.
 
It was decided at the St. Joseph's Conference Committee meeting on 12/13/11 that the RNs who are covered under the Contract and who met the criteria for the EIB to PTO Conversion (see below) would have another chance to submit or re-submit (if you were denied) a PAR to your Manager indicating you want to convert 16 hours of EIB to PTO.  Please submit/re-submit your PAR as soon as possible, but no later than December 31, 2011.  Please thank your Local Unit Officers for achieving this additional opportunity!
 
EIB to PTO Conversion: Effective November 1, 2011, for nurses on the active payroll as of November 1, 2010, a nurse may elect to convert 16 hours of EIB to PTO. (Letter of Understanding, page 36 in your Contract).

Your WSNA Local Unit Officers, Negotiations Team members, WSNA Nurse Representative, and WSNA Legal Counsel met with hospital administration Monday, December 5, 2011 for our sixth scheduled session to continue negotiations for your Contract.

Your voice has been heard!  We had a tremendous turnout of your colleagues that were able to attend the session.  They filled the room and showed overwhelming solidarity to let the hospital know you are against their proposal for the changes in the Clinical Service grouping and their new floating and layoff concepts.  Along with their attendance, we had multiple pages of signatures on your petition and numerous emails that have been received by WSNA stating strong opposition to their proposal.

At the end of the day, we asked the hospital to withdraw their Clinical Services proposal.  We will continue to fight for you, whatever it takes, for as long as it takes!    Thank you again for your hard work and your participation to date. 

In the meantime, stay involved and keep showing your Solidarity!  Wear blue on Tuesdays and keep your yellow car signs visible. 

Watch for future updates.  Our next meeting is scheduled is Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

It has taken a long time, but a settlement has finally been reached in the KRONOS (Shift Differential) Grievance filed 11/6/2007. 7 RNs will be awarded differential back pay and going forward any RN who starts a 12-hr. shift at any time other than 7am or 7pm, Section 10.1 of the Contract shall apply. A big thank you needs to go out to the RNs involved in this grievance and to Hanna Welander, WSNA Nurse Representative in getting this settlement.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Michele Rose, WSNA Nurse Representative at 1 800 231-8482 ext. 3012 or mrose@wsna.org

Your fellow co-workers are asking for YOUR help.  Currently we are seeing an increase in disciplinary actions being taken against nurses at St. Joe’s.  As nurses we advocate for our patients every day.  We also need to stand up and advocate for our fellow co-workers and our practice.  We need you to volunteer to help your co-workers and be present as that advocate during the grievance process.  WSNA is YOU and it is time for YOU to answer the call to help your fellow nurses!  Training, education and support will be provided.

Contact Mara Kieval RN at mkieval@wsna.org  or 206-276-2018.

EIB to PTO Conversion: Effective November 1, 2010 - for nurses on the active payroll as of November 1, 2010, a nurse may elect to convert 16 hours of EIB to PTO.

You need to submit a PAR to your Manager indicating you want to convert 16 hours of EIB to PTO by November 1, 2010. (Letter of Understanding page 36 in your Contract).

There are vacancies to fill; your local unit needs a Membership Coordinator and some Grievance Officers. If you are interested in one of these positions or just want to become more involved in your local unit please contact one of the Local Unit Officers or Michele Rose RN, WSNA Nurse Representative for St. Joseph Medical Center at 1 800 231-8482 ext. 3012.

When you call or email a Local Unit Officer, please leave your contact information. Say who you are, what unit you work, a brief message of why you are calling/ emailing, and how to contact you (phone #/ email address).