Sunnyside Community Hospital

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 Sunnyside Community 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 Sunnyside Community Hospital 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

Shift Differential Pay for Sick Time (2/4/2010)

It has come to our attention that the hospital has declared to change past practice. We have sent them a cease and desist letter.

In the past, nurses who are hired to evening and night shift are paid their evening and night shift differential when they are on vacation, holiday, or sick time. Article 7.9 of our CBA (Current Bargaining Agreement) states the following:

7.9 Compensable Hours. Time paid, excluding overtime, shall be considered as time worked for purposes of computing salary, pension coverage, and benefits (the percent of holiday, sick and vacation).

It has been the past practice and our interpretation to pay the evening and night shift nurses their shift differential. If you are hired to evening/night shift and are not paid your shift differential for sick time, please contact Janice Schell, your Grievance Officer. If you have any questions, please contact one of your officers.

Sincerely,

Carmen S. Garrison, BSN, RN
WSNA Nurse Representative

Incentive Bonus Days (10/7/2009)

According to your contract, IBD are defined as:

IBD Program: An Incentive Bonus Days (IBD) shift is an extra shift(s) that a nurse signs up for after the final monthly schedule is posted. All extra IBD shifts will be posted on the final schedule as a "need".

If you are volunteering to work a shift that is open on a posted schedule, you should be receiving the incentive bonus pay. A cease and desist letter has been sent to management informing them that we are encouraging all nurses who fill these needs to request incentive pay on their time cards. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Monroe, your Local Unit Chair

Wage Scale (11/1/2008)

YEAR	11/1/08 (5%)	11/1/09 (5%)	11/1/10 (5%)
Base	26.19	27.50	28.87
1	26.96	28.31	29.73
2	27.78	29.17	30.63
3	28.61	30.04	31.55
4	29.47	30.95	32.49
5	30.35	31.86	33.46
6	31.26	32.82	34.46
7	32.19	33.80	35.49
8	33.17	34.83	36.57
9	34.16	35.86	37.66
10	35.18	36.93	38.78
11	36.23	38.04	39.94
12	37.32	39.18	41.14
13	38.43	40.35	42.37
14	39.60	41.58	43.65
16	40.78	42.82	44.96
18	42.00	44.10	46.31
20	43.26	45.42	47.69
22	44.55	46.78	49.12
24	45.89	48.18	50.59
26	47.28	49.65	52.13
28	47.28	*51.14*	53.70
30	47.28	51.14	*55.31*

News

Flu Update (11/19/2010)

Shift Differential Pay for Sick Time (2/4/2010)

Incentive Bonus Days (10/7/2009)

Wage Scale (11/1/2008)