Our WSNA bargaining team met with management on December 16, 2025, for our fourth session of contract negotiations. WSNA sent many proposals to the Employer including language on PTO, EIT, health insurance, and counters to language management has proposed.

The day started with WSNA giving a presentation to management on Providence’s financial health and wage comparators for our hospital. When assessing wage comparators, our team strived to find hospitals that benchmark similar to Sacred Heart, including being a level two trauma center, a level one stroke center, a level four NICU, and children’s hospitals. Did you know Sacred Heart is one of only three level one stroke centers in Washington State? Our nurses make up critical pieces of the delivery of that care spectrum and we’re proud to advocate for fair wages that reflect our nurse’s competency and compassion.

Next, we gave a presentation that included direct feedback we received from our nurses regarding the change to Aetna. It was communicated loudly and clearly that this change has been catastrophic for our members and caused financial hardship. Hanna Rothstrom, 2S ICU RN, shared her testimony with management about how Aetna’s network coverage has forced her rural family to drive 60 miles just to receive primary care. She shared that it was disappointing that Providence’s mission includes caring for the poor and vulnerable but these healthcare changes don’t live that mission for our nurses. We also read a few other stories submitted by our nurses describing the financial strain these changes have caused.

What did our Union propose to the Employer?

• Increasing PTO accruals and maximums- our team identified that our rates have been the same at least since 1998!
• Removing penalty language from EIT that requires nurses to use PTO before accessing EIT
• Increasing paid education leave
• Proposing the Employer provide health insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield that was previously provided and language to not make any plan changes without bargaining with our Union
• Expanding bereavement leave to include how WA State defines qualifying family members
• Incentive premiums for mandatory call departments who have unfilled call shifts and same day sick calls for call shifts

Our team worked to respond to proposals sent by the Employer in previous sessions including 

• Definition of an RN Resident Nurse
• Rejecting language that restricted RN Fellows from changing positions, FTE, or shift for two years following the start of their fellowship
• Seeking clarity on the intention of the changes management wants to make to our charge nurse language
• Refining meal & rest break language and reiterating our waiver language to be in our contract
• Re-proposing break nurse language and sharing more stories about how we need break nurse coverage throughout the hospital
• Rejecting a proposal that removed Article 8.6.2 about rotating weekend and holiday work
• Continued negotiations on NEW self-scheduling language

Members of our bargaining team shared their lived experience with the infamous “break buddy” system, which is where two nurses assume each other’s assignment for the duration of a rest or meal period. Our Union has not ever and does not support a break buddy system. Nurses shared how critical care patients can endure potential harm if not cared for by a dedicated nurse rather than another ICU nurse with two other patients. NICU described their geographical challenges related to their pods of work and how their only resources such as charge nurses and CRT also serve as its own code team. These roles can’t also be expected to provide break relief when they can be called away at a moment's notice.

Bottom line: Nurses deserve their uninterrupted meal and rest periods which is their right by law. Don’t settle for less- you deserve full break relief by someone who doesn’t have another assignment. If you’re put in this situation, notify your charge and file an unsafe staffing form immediately.

A HUGE thank you to our bargaining unit nurses showing up and observing our bargaining session. The support provided to our bargaining team means more than you know.

What do I need to know about next steps?

1. Grab a t-shirt and sign your pledge of support- On Friday, December 19, 2025, from 7:30-11am our WSNA bargaining team will be in the back of the cafeteria distributing shirts, helping nurses sign pledges of support, and are available to discuss union matters with you.
2. Attend our local union meeting- We are hosting two local union meetings on Monday, December 22, 2025. These will be hybrid format; nurses can attend via Teams or come in person in the Notre Dame room in the auditorium. We’ll give an overview of the completed bargaining sessions and nurses will have a chance to ask questions. Meetings are 8-9 am and 8-9 pm.
3. Be an observer- sign up today to observe our contract negotiations. We anticipate receiving wages from the Employer in our next session and observing is a great way to see how a contract is made. Full day and half day opportunities available.
4. Become a Steward- Are you comfortable with your contract? Are you someone with whom your colleagues ask questions to about our union or contract? Step up your game and help us strengthen our Union at Sacred Heart. One hour training provided on an individual basis- sign up today.
5. Follow our social media- Our nurses have Facebook and Instagram with bargaining updates. Follow today!

Questions? Contact one of your local officers on your homepage or your WSNA Nurse Representative Alle Machorro at amachorro@wsna.org.