Union / WSNA local unit

Speaking up for nurses in the Tacoma News Tribune

As we lead up to the strike authorization vote scheduled on July 15 & 16, our top priority continues to be safety: for our patients and our nurses.

Eloquently stated by our union leaders Janet Stewart and Linda Burbank in the Sunday opinion editorial published by the Tacoma News Tribune:

Janet and Linda
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If nurses are expected to take care of more patients who are sicker, we simply need more nurses to do that. Administrators know this, but they are dragging out contract talks on the backs and hearts of nurses who deliver the lifeline to patient care…”
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We know St. Joe’s can afford to invest in safer staffing. Over the past five years, the hospital earned record profits totaling more than $408 million, according to the Washington Department of Health. In 2018, St. Joe’s secured a 12-percent profit margin ($84 million), five times the average profit margin (2.3 percent) of nonprofit hospitals in Washington…”
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Feel-good hospital mission statements mean nothing if you refuse to live up to them. While our CEO’s salary rose 86 percent between 2015 and 2017, administration has refused to allocate resources in our contract that we believe will allow us to recruit and retain the nursing staff necessary to ensure quality and safe patient care…”
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A strike is a last resort. We would prefer to accept a contract that recognizes our concerns. We believe our expectations are reasonable.”
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As a flagship hospital in our community, St. Joe’s should commit to safe staffing standards that serve its stated mission and ensure the safety of its patients and nurses.”
Read the full Sunday opinion editorial

Important dates:

Rapid Response Organizer Celebration: food, prizes and preparation to get out the vote!

When: Wednesday, July 10 at either 4:30 - 6 p.m. or 7:45 - 9:15 p.m.

Where: IUOE Local 612 Hall at 1555 Fawcett Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402. Please enter at the back of the building.

Unfair labor practice strike authorization vote July 15 & 16

Location: IBEW Hall, 3049 S 36th St, Tacoma, WA 98409

Dates/Times

July 15, 2019: 2-4:30 p.m. and 5:30-9 p.m.

July 16, 2019: 5:30-10 a.m. and noon-2 p.m.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Hanna Welander at hwelander@wsna.org or by calling 206-575-7979, ext. 3035.