Tacoma General Hospital

Great news!  As a result of recent WSNA/Multicare Negotiations, you will be receiving a 0.25% increase in your pay. 
 
Per Article 9.1 Wage Rates, effective January 29, 2012, TG nurses covered by the 2012 Contract Agreement received a 1.75% across the board pay increase. 
 
The Memorandum of Understanding regarding Wages and Health Plan (in the back of the Contract after the Appendices) states “If GS RNs get more than 1.75%, MHS will increase the TG RN scale effective the date of the GS RN increase to match GS wages.”
 
Thanks to WSNA and your TG Negotiating Team this past winter and the excellent negotiating work of WSNA and the Negotiating Team of RNs at Good Sam, you will have another increase in pay!
 
If you have any questions regarding this good news, contact one of your Local Unit Officers or your WSNA Nurse Representative, Terri Williams, MS, RN, twilliams@wsna.org.
Local Unit Officers:  Patricia Bradley, RN, Chair; Terry Surratt, RN, Co-Chair; Marcie Turpin, RN, Grievance Officer, Ann-Marie Grant, RN, Secretary, Leanne Leaman, RN, Treasurer; or Aimee Nichols, RN, Membership Coordinator.  

Your new contract is available online, click here.

Announcement
Mid-Term Appointments to your Local Unit
 
Chair: Patricia Bradley, RN (CCU)
Co-Chair: Terry Surratt, RN (Birth Center)
Secretary:  Ann-Marie Grant, RN (MSICU)
Treasurer:  Leanne Leaman, RN (Baker Center OR)
 
Marcie Turpin, RN (Interventional Endoscopy) continues as your Grievance Officer.

Please welcome your new Officers!
 
We extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the out-going Officers for their time, hard work, and effort representing the Bargaining Unit.  They will continue to volunteer with the Local Unit as Unit Reps and members on various committees.
 
Local Unit Rules; Article IV; A.3: Vacancies in any office shall be filled in the event of a mid-term vacancy, by appointment of the Executive Committee.  

Click here to read your March newsletter.

WSNA members voted on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 to accept the contract as proposed with an overwhelming YES!

The turn-out for the vote was outstanding , we applaud each of you for your participation in the process.  Thank you for supporting your Negotiation Team over the last few months by wearing blue, “buttoning up”, displaying car signs, and attending local unit meetings.  A special “thank you” to those who were able to join the Negotiation Team in a show of solidarity at the Negotiation Session on December 20, 2011.

The contract will be available on the Tacoma General Local Unit webpage after it has been signed and returned to our offices.  Stay tuned for notification of this posting.

In Solidarity:
Local Unit Officers: Karen Tranholt, Sally Baque, Marcie Turpin, Kim Armstrong, Sonya Miller
Negotiation Team Members:  Steven Barker, Elaine Barnes, Patricia Bradley, Annmarie Huey, Ann Marie Grant, Aimee Nichols, Judith Turner, Terry Surratt,  John Phillips
WSNA Nurse Representative: Terri Williams, MS, RN
WSNA Attorney Laura Anderson

Contract Improvements

1. Wage increases of 1.75% effective pay period beginning 1/29/12.All employees to receive back pay reimbursement check of $110 (prorated based on FTE) intended to capture back pay for two pay periods prior to 1/29/2012.
    
2. Contract Duration of 1 year Secured gains for a period of one year allows for time for RNs to engage in meaningful input to management’s proposal to adjust to meet business and patient care delivery needs.
   
   
3. Hospital withdrew its negotiation’s proposal to revise Article 5.12 Clinical Services and 6.10 Floating.A new Memorandum of Understanding creates a subcommittee within the current Nurse Staffing Committee to review Article 5.12 using evidence based data and information.This Committee will be facilitated by a neutral facilitator that will assist the nurses and hospital administration in reviewing the Clinical Service areas to consider proposed revisions to this Article.
   
   
4. Call back relief!Nurses working call back after 11:00 p.m. may now obtain relief from working the following day.You may request a day off (use PTO or a low census day) and the Hospital must make a good faith effort to provide your requested relief.
    
5. Improved Definition of Full-time Nurse. Section 5.6 the definition of “Full-time Nurse” now includes nurses working thirty-six (36) hours per week or seventy-two (72) hours per pay period rather than 40 hour per week or 80 hours per pay period. The definition does not apply to Articles 8.4 (Overtime) or Article 8.8 Scheduled Days off.Being able to show that one is a full time employee may help in qualifying for certain financial assistance.Previously anyone working under 40 hours was considered part time.
   
   
6. Improved grievance procedure.Improved and lengthened time line for grievances at the Step 2 and Step 3 levels. We will now have 14 days to appeal at Steps 2 and 3 giving a grievant longer to gather necessary and helpful evidence to support their claim.
   
   
7. Hospital must now post a quarterly report accessible to each Unit detailing for nurses their education reimbursement balance.
   
   
8. Improvement in Layoff Notice. Nurses subject to layoff will now be given an additional week advance notice.Improved notice to WSNA.Additionally during a restructure, nurses will select from new positions in person.This process will now be more transparent and visible to all.
    
9. Conference Committee Improvement.Conference Committee is a joint committee primarily designated to discuss matters relating to nursing care.This procedure has been improved by assuring more timely meetings and necessary attendance by administrators.
    
10. Performance evaluations must now be based on a nurse’s inpidual performance rather than performance of a group or by Unit.
    
    
11. Benefits changes highlights
    The Hospital came to negotiations initially with (significantly more) takeaways in benefits. Your Negotiation Team represented you with a strong and persistent voice.They resisted and fought back against the hospital’s initial proposal and finally came to necessary compromise, gaining above average and industry standard comparables that include:
    
    Held onto preventive care without changes and $2000 cap removed effective 2012.

    Medical for Standard PPO Plan:

    Premiums:
    Same for self only ($15 with wellness plan) add $30 without wellness; self and dependents add $30 with wellness plan and $60 without wellness plan. (.6 FTE and above)

    Deductible:
    Increase from $400/$800 to $600/$1200 ($750/$1500 non-network).

    Facility:
    The coinsurance for facility fees remain the same at 10% for services at a Multicare facility, but is 20% for non-Multicare facility

    Out of Pocket:
    Increase from $2500/$3600 to $2600/$4600 (in network); $4100/$6800 (out of network)

    High Deductible PPO:

    Premiums remain the same.

    Out of Pocket max from $3000/$6000 to $3500/$7000

    Increase employer contribution to health savings account for high-deductible plan from $500/$1000 to $750/$1500 (.6 FTE and above and for people in HSA for 12 months)

    Prescriptions:

    Standard PPO: Continue to maintain 10% for all generics, including non-MHS pharmacies. Increase brand name coinsurance to 40% if purchased at non-MHS pharmacy. It remains 20% coinsurance for brand names purchased at MHS pharmacy.

    Out of pocket maximum will change to $1500/$3000 for pharmacy costs.

    Dental Plan Improvements:

    Your contract protects against any changes to your Dental Plan in 2012.However, there will be improvements as follows:

    Increase in annual benefit maximum from $1500 to $1750

    Premium reduction (.6 FTE and above) Employee only from $0 to $0 EE & spouse from $46 to $43 EE & children from $62 to $5 EE & family from $107 to $100

YOUR NEGOTIATION TEAM has worked very hard to bring you a contract that they believe represents contract terms and working conditions we all can support.

Your Negotiating team RECOMMENDS A “YES” VOTE

Get the Vote Out! Let your voice be heard.

Every WSNA voting-eligible registered nurse needs to VOTE!

Only bargaining unit members are eligible to vote.If you are unclear about your eligibility or would like to become a bargaining unit member, please contact the membership department at WSNA directly at 1-800-231-8482 or membership@wsna.org as soon as possible to find out how.

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

Please join your WSNA Local Unit colleagues from St. Joseph, St. Clare, Good Samaritan and Tacoma General for a special event on January 23rd.  We will share a meal together (at no cost to you), spend some time to renew old friendships and make some new friends; and then down to business as we launch the WSNA Campaign For Patient Safety.

Anne Tan Piazza, WSNA Assistant Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Operations, will share the details of WSNA’s legislative proposals on safe RN staffing, uninterrupted meal/rest breaks, and limiting mandatory overtime.  You will have ample time to ask questions and learn how easy it is for you to be a part of the campaign.

Hope to see you on January 23 at:
Varsity Grill
1114 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402‎ - (253) 627-1229
5:30 pm Networking time
6:00 pm Greetings and Introductions
6:30 pm Dinner

There’s street parking all around the venue, a parking lot across the street, and a parking lot 1 block behind the building.

Directions:
Take I-5
Take exit 133 to merge onto I-705 N toward City Center
Take the A St exit on the left toward City Center
Keep left at the fork to continue toward Pacific Ave
Turn right onto Pacific Ave
Take the 2nd left onto S 11th St
Take the 2nd left onto Broadway
Destination will be on the right

**** Please RSVP to Irene at 206-575-7979 ext. 0 or email imueller@wsna.org
 

WSNA and your negotiation team met with Management past midnight last night.  We hope to have an update the early part of next week as we continue to negotiate.  Stay tuned!

Click here for the Hospital’s proposal on Clinical Services, December 20, 2011.

WSNA and your Negotiating Team understands that Bill Greenheck sent you an email.  The Subject line of his email read “December 28, 2011 – WSNA Negotiations Update.”

The Hospital is negotiating with WSNA, but most importantly, with the eleven Negotiating Team RNs who have spent seven sessions with the Hospital – representing all bargaining unit RNs.  These eleven RNs include your Local Unit Officers.

As you are already aware, it is a correct statement that the Hospital and your WSNA Negotiating Team have not reached an agreement.   WSNA has sent updates after each session to keep you informed.  As our last update stated, we will be meeting with a federal mediator, the date has been set for January 12, 2012.

Per our update to you of November 29, 2011, the Hospital has proposed drastic changes to the Clinical Services section of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).  The Hospital put forth this proposal stating clearly that it was based on floating, layoffs, and low census.

The proposed changes to the Hospital the Clinical Services will:

• Expand Clinical Services into “groupings” that are unrealistic and would require expansive training for nurses to float from one area to another. i.e. “Clinical Grouping A” would consist of CCU/CVICU; ICU/NEURO ICU/ICTU; CVSS/CVAR/Chest Pain Clinic;
• Affect most nurses at Tacoma General in regards to floating and layoffs;
• Devalue expertise and seniority;
• Offer possibility of tremendous negative impact to Patient Safety.

Your team has repeatedly spoken on your behalf to the Hospital to protect your patients and your license.

WSNA and your Negotiating Team RNs had the opportunity to meet your new CNO, Kate Bechtold, at one of our recent negotiating sessions.  While speaking with her, she expressed that she shares the importance of evidence-based research in nursing.

The Hospital:

• Has not been able to give us any evidence-based research regarding the changes they are proposing in Clinical Services;
• Has not given us any documentation/research of any kind to show that this plan is workable;
• Admitted they have been working on these changes for over a year and devised this plan without any input from the bedside nurses.
• Intends for their proposal to become part of the contract without a formal plan to:

               -  assure adequate training;
               -  keep nurses competent in their area of expertise; 
               -  keep nurses competent in areas of mandatory float;
               - ensure equitable rotation of floating.

The Bargaining Unit has shown great solidarity during this Negotiation session.  Together, we have shown Management that all of the nurses share the same strong interest in preserving Patient Safety and protecting our rights!  We will continue to stand against these dramatic changes.

Click here for the Hospital’s proposal on Clinical Services.  Stay tuned for further updates after our session with the federal mediator on January 12, 2012.

In solidarity,

Terri Williams, MS, RN
WSNA Nurse Representative

LU Officers: Karen Tranholt, Sally Baque, Marcie Turpin, Sonya Miller, Kim Armstrong
Negotiation Team Members: Steven Barker, Elaine Barnes, Patricia Bradley, Annmarie Huey, Ann Marie Grant, Aimee Nichols, Judith Turner, Terry Surratt, John Phillips
Laura Anderson, Legal Counsel
 
 

It’s time to hear from you in a show of solidarity and unity.
Below is a list of items your negotiation team is asking that you complete as soon as possible to help them in their work to achieve a new contract for you.

TG Nurse To Do Check List

• Read the letter WSNA mailed to you on 01-05-2012 to update you on the issues.
• Check your home email for an electronic newsletter from WSNA on 01-05-2012 and follow the links to complete your checklist!  (If you did not receive this email contact Tara Goode at tgoode@wsna.org)
• Email Campaign to Tacoma General Administrators.  Just a few clicks to send, click here.
• WSNA Survey, click here (Only 7 questions!) 
• BLUE Tuesday on Jan. 10th.  Wear your WSNA buttons, bracelets, and badge holders to show your support for your negotiating team!

If you have difficulty seeing the links in your email or would like to do the survey by phone, call Tara Goode BA BSN RN, Nurse Organizer at WSNA at 800-231-8482 Ext 3038.

LU Officers: Karen Tranholt, Sally Baque, Marcie Turpin, Sonya Miller, Kim Armstrong
Negotiation Team Members: Steven Barker, Elaine Barnes, Patricia Bradley, Annmarie Huey, Ann Marie Grant, Aimee Nichols, Judith Turner, Terry Surratt, John Phillips
Legal Counsel: Laura Anderson

Your WSNA Negotiations Team members, Local Unit Officers, WSNA Nurse Representative, and WSNA Legal Counsel met with hospital administration Tuesday, December 20, 2011 for our seventh session to continue negotiations for your Contract.

• The Hospital made no significant changes in their Clinical Services.
• They have agreed to Mediation, which should occur sometime in January.
• Your Contract has been extended until January 12, 2012.

Please continue to wear blue on Tuesdays and keep your yellow car signs visible.  These efforts are noticed by the Hospital and they do make a strong point.
 
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact: Terri Williams, MS, RN, WSNA Nurse Representative 206-575-7979 x3045 or twilliams@wsna.org.                             

The Negotiations Team has serious concerns about the hospital’s attempt to change our Clinical Services.   They have brought forward a proposal with DRASTIC CHANGES to the current Clinical Services grouping.  These changes will severely affect floating and layoffs. 

Your WSNA negotiating team has made patient safety our number one priority.  We are speaking out for all of you, protecting your patients and your license.  The Hospital has been asked numerous times to show how they will be implementing this new plan for the Clinical Services.  They cannot give us that plan.  They tell us that it is too difficult to “contractualize” a plan and that they want to work with each nurse on an individual basis.  The Hospital states that the “bedrock” of this plan is in the nurses’ individual competencies.  We say that filling out a form/checklist does not make a nurse competent. 

This proposal is not a red herring!  Despite what management might tell you, it is clear to us that the hospital will float you to an area(s) that you are not trained in.  The past history of how training is done is widespread. 

Your negotiating team has met with the Hospital on FIVE different occasions.  At each of these sessions, your team has spent an inordinate amount of time and energy to convince the Hospital that their plan will not work. Their proposal is not a “nursing model”; it is a “business model.” 

Click here to view the Hospital’s proposal.  Please look it over carefully.  This proposal will mandate floating to more units.  They intend their proposal to become part of the contract without:

• A plan to assure adequate training
• A plan to keep nurses competent in their area of expertise
• A plan to keep nurses competent in areas of mandatory float
• A plan for equitable rotation of floating
• Any documentation or research that this plan is workable or feasible.

Importantly, this may devalue your seniority, and consequently, have dire consequences for layoffs. 

The time for SOLIDARITY is NOW.  This means we will show management that all nurses share the same interests in preserving patient safety and protecting our rights.   Show them that you will not stand for these dramatic changes to your contract! 

Our last scheduled meeting with the Hospital is this coming Monday, December 5, 2011.  We are asking you to be present and show your SOLIDARITY.  The meeting is being held at the LaQuinta Inn, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma.  Please plan to arrive by 0815, if possible – the session with Hospital management begins at 0830.  Please plan to spend at least one hour of your time.

We are also planning time to meet with you on campus this coming Friday, December 2, 2011.  Please watch for flyers on your bulletin boards.  Come meet with us and we will give you first-hand updates and answer your questions and hear your comments.

We understand this is very short notice but we really need your help.  If you are not able to attend Monday, please send an email to WSNA (see below), stating simply that you are against the changes being presented to the Clinical Services.  Your voice WILL be heard.

In solidarity,
Terri Williams, RN, MS
WSNA Nurse Representative
twilliams@wsna.org
 

What a great turnout at the Local Unit meeting this last Wednesday!
 
We will continue to keep you informed as negotiations progress.
 
Blue Tuesdays begin now!
 
In solidarity,
Marcie Turpin, Sally Baque, Steven Barker, Elaine Barnes, Patricia Bradley, Karen Tranholt, Judith Turner, Terry Surratt, Ann Marie Grant, Sonya Miller, Aimee Nichols, John Phillips, Kim Armstrong, Annmarie Huey

Your Negotiation Team met with the hospital.  There were no significant agreements obtained during the course of the day.  We continue to not be in agreement with the hospital proposed changes in Clinical Services.
 
We Need Your Help Now.  Please Plan to Attend one of the Local Unit Meetings on November 9, 2011 for details

Show Solidarity:
Wear WSNA Pins Everyday
Watch Your Emails For Updates
Next Negotiation Date:  November 28, 2011

In solidarity,
Karen Tranholt, Sally Baque, Marcie Turpin, Sonya Miller, Kim Armstrong  LU Officers

Steven Barker, Elaine Barnes, Patricia Bradley, Annmarie Huey, Ann Marie Grant, Aimee Nichols, Judith Turner, Terry Surratt, John Phillips  Negotiation Team Members

These Negotiations Are About You

Your WSNA Local Unit Officers, Negotiations Team members, WSNA Nurse Representatives, and WSNA Legal Counsel; along with Good Samaritan representatives/officers met with hospital administration on Thursday, October 27 and Tuesday, November 1 to negotiate the proposed changes to your health-care benefits.

We had a few successes during this process, but we were unable to realize the full gains that we knew were important to you and the entire bargaining unit.

Despite the team’s best efforts to negotiate these changes, the employer plans to unilaterally implement their health care plan.  The hospital announced that the MultiCare 2012 Open Enrollment packets will be produced and sent out Monday, November 7, 2011.  We are studying what further action we may take.  In the meantime, complete any necessary forms in the MultiCare 2012 Open Enrollment packet and return them as instructed to MultiCare before the deadline.

If you refer to the letter from Bill Greenheck that WSNA sent you about the proposed changes, the information has changed as follows:

Medical for Standard PPO Plan:

The deductible will increase from $400/$800 to $600/$1200.  They would not entertain our proposal for $500/$900.

Maintain coinsurance for all network providers at 10%.

Increase out of pocket maximum from $2500/$3600 to $2600/$4600.  They would not entertain our counter proposal of $2600/$4000.

Prescriptions:

Standard PPO:  Continue to maintain 10% for all generics, including non-MHS pharmacies.  Increase brand name coinsurance to 40% if purchased at non-MHS pharmacy.  It remains 20% coinsurance for brand names purchased at MHS pharmacy.

There will be some changes to pharmacy clinical recommendations that will be further explained in your enrollment packet.

Out of pocket maximum will change to $1500/$3000 for pharmacy costs.

Monthly Medical Premiums:

Maintain $15 self only premium for those who participated in the wellness assessment.  For the nurses that did not complete the assessment, self-only premiums will rise to $45.  The costs were slated to rise in 2012 to $30 for self who participated in wellness and to $60 for those who did not participate in wellness.  They would not entertain our proposal to leave all bargaining unit members at $15 self-only premium.  The rationale is that the promised wellness plan did not materialize, and there were major technical difficulties where many nurses were unsure if their assessments actually were received by the appropriate parties.

For the Standard PPO, there will be $30 increases in health premiums $30 for Employee/Children, Employee/Spouse (DP), and Employee/Family.  They would not entertain our proposal not to increase the premiums despite the fact that the hospital has realized a net gain of approximately 2.25% to 4% in health care total premium costs.

For the High-Deductible medical premiums, they backed off on the $30 premium increases for dependents.  The premiums remain at the 2011 cost.

Increase the employer contribution to health savings account for high-deductible plan from $500/$1000 to $1000/$2000.   They amended that to $750/$1500.

The maximum out of pocket for high-deductible will increase from $3000/$6000 to $3500/$7000.
 

Health Care Benefits:  We had a few successes during this process, but we were unable to realize the full gains that we knew were important to you and the entire bargaining unit. 

Despite the team’s best efforts to negotiate these changes, the employer plans to unilaterally implement their health care plan.  The hospital announced that their packets will be produced and sent out Monday, November 7, 2011.  We are studying what further action we will take.  In the meantime, complete any necessary forms in the packet and turn them in before the deadline.   Check WSNA website for specifics on proposed changes and comparisons.

The Hospital continues to attempt to move forward with changes in Clinical Services.  This would impact floating/low census.  We continue to have serious concerns with these proposed Clinical Service changes that require increases in critical competencies for those nurses required to float. 

Next meeting will be held on November 7, 2011

Watch for Upcoming Events

Local Unit Bargain Unit Meeting for all BU Members:  
Date, Time, and Place to be Determined:   STAY TUNED

In solidarity,
Karen Tranholt, Sally Baque, Marcie Turpin, Sonya Miller, Kim Armstrong  LU Officers

Steven Barker, Elaine Barnes, Patricia Bradley, Annmarie Huey, Ann Marie Grant, Aimee Nichols, Judith Turner, Terry Surratt,  John Phillips  Negotiation Team Members
 

Your Negotiation Team met with TG Administration from 09:30 to 17:00
The Hospital presented an economic proposal and changes in Clinical Services.  This would impact floating/low census.  We have serious concerns with these proposed Clinical Service changes and possible required increased critical competencies. 

Next meeting will be held on November 1, 2011

Watch for Upcoming Events

Local Unit Rep Meeting will be held at Pierce County Nurses Association Offices November 2, 2011,  223 Tacoma Avenue South  at 4PM-7PM.  If you can’t attend, send a replacement.  If you are interested in being a Unit Representative, plan to come.  Dinner will be provided

Local Unit Bargain Unit Meeting for all BU Members:  
Date, Time, and Place to be Determined:   STAY TUNED

In solidarity,
Karen Tranholt, Sally Baque, Marcie Turpin, Sonya Miller, Kim Armstrong  LU Officers

Steven Barker, Elaine Barnes, Patricia Bradley, Annmarie Huey, Ann Marie Grant, Aimee Nichols, Judith Turner,    Terry Surratt,  John Phillips  Negotiation Team Members
 

We had our first negotiation session Monday, October 17, 2011.  We gave the hospital our proposal and administration indicated they would have their proposal for us at our next session on Friday, October 28th. 

In solidarity,
Marcie Turpin, Sally Baque, Steven Barker, Elaine Barnes
Patricia Bradley, Karen Tranholt, Judith Turner, Terry Sarratt
Ann Marie Grant, Sonya Miller, Aimee Nichols, John Phillips
Kim Armstrong, Annmarie Huey

Terri Williams, RN, WSNA Nurse Representative will be in the Cafeteria if you have issues on your unit you want to discuss: Wednesday, October 26, 2011

1100 – 1230
1330 – 1500
1530 – 1700

Thank You you for taking the time to fill out your WSNA Negotiations Survey for 2011.

As is usual when you ask questions…more questions arise!  Please be aware that you may be called by a WSNA staff member in the coming weeks to be asked just a few follow-up questions.  This info may be useful to your colleagues on the negotiation team.

You can also help your team by paying attention to your: unit bulletin boards,
home mailbox & home email account for timely and pertinent updates during negotiations.

If you are not already receiving this information,or would like details about how to better take advantage of the benefits of WSNA membership, please contact WSNA with your updates and benefit questions.

The time has come again for contract negotiations.  We will be starting negotiations soon as our current contract expires December 31st  of this year.  We are seeking volunteers to participate in the process. 

The negotiating team will consist of the WSNA Officers and representatives from each unit.  Currently the Officers include:
Karen Tranholt, LU Chair
Sally Baque, LU Co-Chair
Sonya Miller, Secretary
Kim Armstrong, Treasurer
Marci Turpin, Grievance Officer
Betty Blondin, Communications
Aimee Nichols, Membership

We have received notification of interest from the following nurses:
Annmarie Huey
Tawnia McKenzie
Julieanne Housden
Victoria Brunette
Jody Walker
Judy Turner
John Phillips
Ann Marie Grant
Rachael Warren

We are looking for representatives from every unit.  We are encouraging any and all nurses to volunteer and have a voice in your professional future.  If you are interested in participating in the process, please email Karen Tranholt, LU Chair no later than September 7th by email - in2soccer@msn.com

Just so you are aware, the hospital has to take into consideration staffing needs of the hospital in how nurses are released from work to participate in negotiations. 

Thanks for your dedication to the profession and the future of your practice. 
Karen Tranholt, RN
Local Unit Chair
 

As we enter another flu season, WSNA is committed to advocating for the health of nurses and the patients that we serve. Because of this commitment, and consistent with interim CDC recommendations, we strongly recommend that nurses and all other health care providers who provide direct patient care be vaccinated this fall.

However, a voluntary vaccination program is only one component of a comprehensive influenza prevention policy that must include hierarchy of controls such as screening visitors and employees, having appropriate and adequate supply of personal protective equipment, patient and employee education programs, and supportive workplace infection control practices and policies.

WSNA sent a letter to the CEOs and CNOs of all the WSNA-represented hospitals (including Tacoma General Hospital) urging them to adopt an approach that adheres to the comprehensive, proven, and reliable flu prevention protocol recommended by the CDC and offered to partner with the hospitals to achieve optimal levels of health and safety for both patients and nurses. 

We believe that masking policies must follow CDC guidelines for all workers, not just those unvaccinated (currently required when within 6 feet of patients) and not be used as a retaliation or punishment for unvaccinated workers.  WSNA has opposed policies of employers who require unvaccinated nurses to wear a mask at all times and clearly communicated our position through a variety of methods.  The National Labor Relations Board is currently deliberating on our case against Virginia Mason Hospital with regards to their masking policy.

We need you to be vigilant as to whether Tacoma General Hospital is practicing and providing proper support to adhere to a comprehensive program.  If you have any concerns or questions, please contact:Hanna Welander, BSN RN, WSNA Nurse Representative, (800) 231-8482, Ext. 3035.