Cascade Medical Center

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Certification Pay (1/26/2012)

Attention all RNs

Do you currently have a certification recognized by the AACN?

If so, are you currently receiving the premium for your certification?

Please email your response to Carmen Garrison, WSNA Nurse Rep. at cgarrison@wsna.org or call her at 206-491-9424.

It's Finally Finished! (2/22/2011)

Congratulations to all the nurses at Cascade Medical Center, you have a new union contract!

Your team members put in LOTS of volunteer hours to reach an agreement with administration.

You came out in record numbers to support their efforts and ratified the new contract with an overwhelming YES vote!

Now it's time to look toward the future.

If you would like to know how you can utilize your unique interests and availability to make Cascade a better place to practice, please contact your Nurse Organizer Tara Goode, BA, BSN, RN at tgoode@wsna.org or 1-800-231-8482, Ext 3038 to discuss the opportunities available to you!

Come vote on your contract! (2/4/2011)

The vote will be held at the hospital - Acute Care South Conference Room
Thursday, February 10, 2011
5PM-7PM

Your team has worked very hard to come to a tentative agreement. Please remember to thank them for their dedication and hard work. Annette, Gordon, and Yvonne each volunteered over 70 hours of their time to get a fair contract in very difficult times. If you have any questions about the contract, please contact them. You will have a summary and red-line version of the contract to review at the vote. Our chief negotiator, Laura Anderson, and your WSNA Nurse Representative, Carmen Garrison, will also be available to answer any questions you may have on the day of the vote. You can contact Carmen Garrison via email or phone at any time: cgarrison@wsna.org 206-491-9424.

Negotiation Update (1/4/2011)

Our fourth day of negotiations was 12/21/10.

We started at 5%-4%-4% with step increases. Our last offer was 2% step intervals starting with our base and 2% wage increase for January 1, 2011. 3.5 year contract with economic reopener in June 30, 2011 and again June 30, 2012.

The hospital has come forth with the following:

A bleak overall financial projection
No Yearly wage increase
Still want more than one month schedule
No increase in premiums
Next date of negotiations February 1, 2011 and possibly February 9, 2011.

Your negotiating team needs your support. Tell them how much you appreciate their hard work. Wear WSNA Blue! Anyone who would like to observe negotiations, please contact Leslie Potridge.

How Your Dues Are Calculated (12/1/2010)

The rate of dues for members of the WSNA portion of the dues is approved by a majority vote of the WSNA members voting through secret mail ballot.

About WSNA-PAC Political Contributions (12/1/2010)

Did you know?

WSNA’s legislation priorities are set by the volunteer leaders of the association consistent with our vision, mission and goals. No WSNA dues go towards political contributions to candidates. Financial contributions to candidates come from individual contributions made by nurses to the WSNA PAC, NOT from your WSNA dues.

Flu Update (11/19/2010)

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. If you have reasons for not having the flu vaccine, sign the declination letter. You do not have to provide them with a reason.

WSNA sent a letter to the CEOs and CNOs of all the WSNA represented hospitals (including Cascade Medical Center) 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 Cascade Medical Center is practicing or providing proper support to adhere to a comprehensive program. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact:

Carmen Garrison WSNA Nurse Rep
1-800-231-8482 ext 3113
cgarrison@wsna.org

Important Note:
If you find yourself in a situation that you believe creates unsafe conditions for patients or for you, complete the Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) Form as soon as possible.