We have reached a tentative agreement with Benton Franklin Health District. Now it is time for you to vote. See the vote details below:

Thursday, Jan. 27,2022
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
at the Kennewick site
7102 W. Okanogan Pl, Kennewick, WA 99336

Here are the bullet points for the BFHD tentative agreement:

• 2022 Wage Increase and Additional Step:
  • A 3% across-the-board increase retroactive to January 1, 2022.
  • Add Step J to pay scale at 2.5% above Step I. Nurses who have been at Step I for one year or longer will be moved to Step J, retroactive to January 1, 2022.
• 2023 Wage Increase and Additional Step:
  • A 3% across-the-board increase effective January 1, 2023.
  • Add Step K to pay scale at 2.5% above Step J, effective January 1, 2023.
• New bilingual certification premium
  • $160/month for all nurses who meet certification requirements
• More time allowed to use extra time
  • Time allowed to use extra time extended from 60 days to 180 days
  • Also changes contract language to clarify exempt status
• Expanded sick leave usage
  • Includes mental as well as physical illness or injury
  • “Family member” now includes grandchildren
  • Leave may be used if employee’s workplace or child’s school or care is closed for any health-related reason by order of public official
  • Leave may be used for absences that qualify under the WA Domestic Violence Leave Act (RCW 49.76.030)
• Additional education leave benefits
  • Yearly amount increased from $200 to $400
  • Up to $200 automatically carries over to the next year (then lost if not used)
• Additional bereavement leave benefits
  • Two additional days off with pay for death in immediate family
  • Allows use of vacation in addition to sick leave for additional days off or for death outside of immediate family
  • “Immediate family” now includes grandchildren and allows for case-by-case exceptions under special circumstances
• BFHD to provide PPE with prior approval
• Other clarifications and changes
  • Clarifies that the “basic work day” is an 8 or 10 hour period between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
  • BFHD will provide minutes of board meetings to WSNA
  • Clarifies that “in pay status” for holiday pay means not on leave without pay
  • Seniority is calculated the same for full-time and part-time employees (length of employment from most recent date of hire)
  • May notify District of injury/illness during vacation by text message or email
  • If injured on the job, the District will provide a copy of the incident report and a written explanation if you won’t be paid for the remainder of the day
• NO TAKEAWAYS