• BLUE FRIDAYS. Wear your WSNA Blue T-Shirts. Take pics and post on our WSNA Good Sam Social Media pages: Facebook or Instagram @gshnurses.

• Contact one of the WSNA officers, your Unit Rep, or JStewart@wsna.org  if you need a shirt. (More being ordered).
• Wear your "Break for Safety" buttons and stickers every day.
• Attest your missed breaks on Kronos; on the unit break tracking sheet; and ADOs

• Continue submitting ADOs for missed breaks; using break buddies; or no break nurse.  (FBC, your increased ADO submissions have been noted).

Thank you to the break nurse subcommittee members for working towards restoring break hours on the units. Some hours have been restored; but we will not be satisfied until we get back the hours for Each and Every unit which were originally approved by the Hospital Staffing Committee in April 2024.

The Break MOU Grievance has been advanced to Arbitration. More to come.

Healthy At Work - Empty Promises

Multicare failed to offer you a Wellness Program in 2024 which would allow you to receive a $30/month discount from your health premium when you participate in the program. WSNA has been asking for updates on this through the year and have been told they are still exploring this.

We have contract language in a Memorandum of Understanding which states, "Nurses will have the option of participating in a MultiCare sponsored Wellness Plan. Those who choose not to participate will be subject to health insurance premium surcharge. MultiCare will maintain minimally a $30.00/month discount benefit to premium through the life of the ’23-’26 Collective Bargaining Agreement."

Further, article 11.1.3 Health Plan Premiums states, "The Employer will maintain health plan premium rates through 2023. For plan years 2024, 2025 and 2026, the Employer agrees that any premium increases will be shared equally by the nurse and Employer, except that the nurse share shall not exceed a maximum of fifty dollars ($50.00) per month in any contract year. In no event will bargaining unit nurses be required to pay premium rates that exceed the rates paid by non-represented employees."

Multicare states, "Multicare is continuing to explore wellness program offerings to employees that will add value and contribute to healing and health, in keeping with Multicare's mission, vision, and values."  That's what they said in 2024 also.

With the added $60 premium for 2025, and no ability to participate in a Wellness Program, this exceeds the $50 per month max.

WSNA filed a grievance for violation of the WSNA contract. We will keep you posted as to how this grievance is progressing.

Consecutive Weekend Grievance Arbitration Set for February 20-21, 2025

WSNA filed a Grievance and ULP (Unfair Labor Practice) against MultiCare for unilaterally retracting the Consecutive Weekend Pay for extra pick-up shifts; and for violating our contract. Arbitration will take place February 20-21. We have contacted some of you to provide testimony. If you are interested and available, please contact WSNA Nurse Rep Janet Stewart at jstewart@wsna.org.

Testimony and Documentation was submitted to the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) Region 19 this past week for the ULP charge. We will keep you updated as we know more.

Thankfulness - What are you thankful for?

We are thankful to have a Bargaining Unit which is 850 Union Members Strong.

We are thankful for a dedicated team of Officers, Unit Reps and Staffing Committee leaders who donate their time and energy towards enforcing our contract and making working conditions better for us.

We are thankful for health care providers; that we have the ability to provide excellent care and support to our patients and families.

Though times can be tough, it's good to think about the things we are thankful for.

May your Thanksgiving be full of Peace, Love and Joy.

Your Good Samaritan Officers,

Ilia Mondoy, Raeli Korzeniecki, Mindy Thornton, Aaron Bradley, Anne Landen, Atalia Lapkin

WSNA Organizer Grace LaMonte GLamonte@wsna.org
WSNA Nurse Rep Janet Stewart Jstewart@wsna.org