Susan Babcock
Officers
Sue Starr, PHN
WSNA staff contact
WSNA staff contact
Contract
Negotiations Update: Session 7
Posted Mar 4, 2024
We sat down with management for our seventh bargaining session on Thursday, Feb. 29. WSNA gave our economic proposal which would raise Snohomish County Health Department wages to line up more closely with the prevailing nurse wages in the area. We are also looking to increase the longevity bonuses across the board to help the County retain their nursing staff beyond the tenth yearly step increase.
The first six sessions were mainly focused on merging the year-long 2023 interim contract and the previous contract from 2021-2022. We are now able to focus on coming to agreements on how the former District language can integrate with the County's practices while still affording you the right to dispute issues in a timely manner with management as well as work in a safe environment. The County says that they have 30 contracts currently being negotiated so they are having difficulty scheduling additional sessions. We are continuing to push them to give us more timely sessions, but our next session will likely be at the end of March or the beginning of April.
We would like to thank Christin Seo for stepping up to fill her colleague's spot at the table during this last session. If anyone would like to get more involved, please let your nurse rep know (gchesterman@wsna.org). If you're at the office, you can ask your bargaining team members Susan Babcock and Sue Starr for "I support our bargaining team" stickers.
In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Team
Susan Babcock, Chair
Sue Starr, Vice Chair
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your bargaining team or your WSNA nurse rep, Grace Chesterman (gchesterman@wsna.org).
Previous updates
Bargaining Update: Sessions 3 and 4
Jan 24, 2024
December Bargaining Sessions
Dec 21, 2023
Negotiations for Your New Contract Start Soon!
Dec 07, 2023
Coming Soon: Contract Negotiations!
Oct 31, 2023
Temporary Staffing MOU
Sep 18, 2023
Change of Nurse Rep
Jul 10, 2023
Upcoming event
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Resources and tools
Document unsafe conditions
If you find yourself in a situation that you believe creates unsafe conditions for patients or for you, you should complete a Staffing Complaint / ADO Form as soon as possible.
By completing the form, you will help make the problem known to management, creating an opportunity for the problem to be addressed. Additionally, you will be documenting the facts, which may be helpful to you later if there is a negative outcome.
WSNA also uses your ADO forms to track the problems occurring in your facility. When you and your coworkers take the important step of filling out an ADO form, you are helping to identify whether there is a pattern of unsafe conditions for you or your patients at your facilities. This information is used by your conference committee, staffing committee, and WSNA labor staff to improve your working conditions.
Representation rights
As a union member, you have the right to have a representative present in any meetings with management that could potentially lead to disciplinary action against you.
If called into a meeting with management, read the following to management when the meeting begins:
If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, I respectfully request that my union representative be present at this meeting. Without representation present, I choose not to participate in this discussion.
Find out more about this crucial right and how to exercise it to ensure your fair treatment and protection.
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Earn CNE contact hours through topics like Cultural Humility, Telehealth Assessment, Workplace Violence Prevention, and more. Convenient and self-paced, our courses provide practical knowledge for your daily work. Expand your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest nursing practices.
Visit cne.wsna.org to access our courses and earn CNE contact hours.