Over the past two weeks we've been fighting for a contract on two fronts: our bargaining team has kept pushing forward in negotiations and YOU have let management know Mares nurses deserve their respect. Your emails are working — at our last session, we reached TAs on staffing committee language that ensures we get the final say in our own staffing plans.

We need you to keep it up so we can get to the finish line in this negotiation. Need an example? Here's an email Mares RN Cori Godbey sent just before our last bargaining date to Confluence's CNO and Director of Nursing:

Emails like this move the needle because they show management that Mares nurses will continue to fight for a first contract every day, not just at the bargaining table. We need more nurses to email management so the message doesn't get lost over the holiday week!

Tell management: Mares nurses need a fair contract NOW!

We need your help to make management understand how nurses feel about the things management is rejecting at the table. Here’s how:

1. Pick a Confluence manager – it can be your direct supervisor, a department director, or your CNO.
   
2. Draft an email with this template:
   “Dear _________,
   I am emailing as a member of the WSNA bargaining unit at Confluence Mares on behalf of my fellow nurses. When I learned management had rejected our bargaining team’s proposals about ___________, it made me feel _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. My coworkers and I have been bargaining for over a year for a contract. Enough is enough. We urge you to reach a deal that fairly compensates Confluence Mares’ nurses.
   Sincerely,
   ______________________” 
   
   
3. Send the email to your manager using your personal email address. We recommend copying your WSNA Nurse Rep., Laurie Robinson, at lrobinson@wsna.org, or forward your email to her after you send it.

Here are some examples of the proposals management is still rejecting:

• Applying the Central bargaining unit’s retirement contribution matching rates to Mares’ bargaining unit.
• Giving us at least 60 days’ notice before any planned change to our start times so we have enough time to bargain over that decision.
• A ratification bonus that compensates nurses for the time we’ve spent waiting for a deal.
• A commitment to allowing at least two nurses in each unit take PTO at the same time, which is already part of Central’s contract.
• A contract term that expires in March 2028, not March 2027; we’ll be back at the table in eighteen months if we accept their proposed contract term!
• Recognizing that RN Residents are part of our bargaining unit and can join the union as members
• Union security language that would strengthen our bargaining unit in the years to come
• Clear definitions for terms like “regular rate of pay” so we know exactly how much we should earn each paycheck

This is the moment of truth for our bargaining unit.

If you were waiting to get involved in the campaign for our first contract, this is the time. Confluence Mares’ nurses are tired of waiting for a fair contract that respects our vital role in Wenatchee. We’ve made that clear at the table, but we need everyone to pitch in to make sure management doesn’t forget when they’re on the hospital floor. And stay tuned this week for another opportunity to get involved — a member of the bargaining team will be in touch with more information soon!

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining team
Chris Gallup, OR, Co-Chair
Marshall Snoddy, OR, Co-Chair
Megan Baute, GI, Secretary
Caitlin Orange, GI, Treasurer
Mateo Maestas, OR, Grievance Officer
Rochelle Mason, ED, Membership Officer
Waikele Frantz, Rehab/ Medsurg, Unit Liaison

Questions/Concerns? Contact Laurie Robinson, WSNA Nurse Representative, 206-620-4136,  lrobinson@wsna.org.

For more information on how you can get involved contact Jenny Galassi, Nurse Organizer, 206-707-2948, jgalassi@wsna.org.