WSNA recently reached a settlement for the Break Buddies and Charge Nurse grievances.  The settlement included a promise that the Hospital would add “Additional Staffing [ ] equivalent to 16.2 new FTE” for the purpose of staffing some units and shifts with dedicated break relief. Importantly, these nurses are to be in addition to the nurses required in the hospital staffing plan.  It was agreed break relief would be an assignment, not a position.

The Settlement provided for a gradual phase in, with the Hospital agreeing to post new positions within 60 days, to begin scheduling additional staff for the Break Flex role within 90 days, and to begin tracking the time spent in the Break Flex role to ensure that 16.2 FTE worth of new staffing was being spent on break relief. We are currently at Day 59. Starting on April 16 (90 days from the date the settlement was executed), 16.2 FTE of additional staffing to support the break relief role must be pre-scheduled, in accordance with existing department scheduling guidelines and the CBA.

Virginia Mason has conveyed that it only intends to hire 11 new RNs – equivalent to 9.9 FTEs. WSNA believes that this does not fulfill VM’s obligation to provide 16.2 FTE of new staffing for break relief and has filed a grievance over the inadequate number of postings.  VM insists that it will somehow be able to fill the 16.2 FTE’s worth of additional staffing for break relief with only 9.9 new FTEs. WSNA disagrees, and will continue to hold VM accountable.

Please stay tuned for further updates, and reach out to your local unit officers or to Sara Frey (sfrey@wsna.org) to share any updates from your unit.