Your bargaining team proudly recommends this agreement for ratification by the membership

Wage Increases:

1/1/18 – transition to new step system with nurses moving to the step with the next higher dollar amount (no nurse will move down as a result of this transition), 5% increase to the wage scale with 5% increases between all steps except for the final step which will be 2.5% (note: raises are retroactive to January 1).

1/1/19 – 1% across the board increase, final step in the scale will increase from 2.5% to 5%.

During the term of this 2-year contract, nurses currently at the top step will receive an increase in wages of wages of 8.5%. Nurses who are not yet at the top step will receive an increase of at least 6% in addition to any step increases received.

Classification Consolidation

The agreement consolidates the existing classifications making progression through the step system clearer and more straight forward. Instead of “promoting” from a PHN 1 to a PHN 2, a nurse will be hired as a PHN and will progress from the first step of the scale to the top step of the scale. The same concept will apply for the RN scale. As part of the consolidation, the parties have agreed to clarify the existing bargaining unit by removing manager positions.

Flextime

Nurses will now be able to use your flextime within the same month and/or pay period instead of being required to use it within the same week. Note: Use of flex time must comply with existing wage and hour laws.

Education Allotment

Nurses will now be able to use your $200 annual education stipend for tuition payments and licensure renewals.

Maternity Leave

The new agreement removes the current language that allows a nurse to continue working only with the approval of a physician. Instead, the employer will comply with existing federal and state family medical leave laws.

Furloughs

The bargaining team agreed to language allowing the District to furlough nurses in the event of a temporary funding shortage such as a reduction in grants or a government shutdown. The bargaining team believes that the allowance for furloughs will minimize the disruption to affected nurses in the event of a temporary funding shortage. The alternative to furloughs is layoffs which require the District to terminate a nurse’s employment and pay the nurse for all accrued vacation and sick time. While the District can call nurses back at the end of the funding shortage, nurses would return to work with no accrued leave time. While WSNA did not seek this provision in the contract, the bargaining team determined the potential of lessening impact on nurses justified the agreement to allow the District to furlough.

WSNA nurses at BFHD earned this contract! Your bargaining team worked hard to achieve this contract. However, the improvements in the new agreement would not have been possible without the support and engagement of all WSNA nurses at BFHD. Your letters to the Board and attendance at the Board meeting have allowed us to bring a tentative agreement to you that we proudly recommend.

Remember to come and cast your vote.

When: May 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Admin Conference Room, 2^nd floor - Kennewick office.

Our bargaining team is recommending a YES vote!