Session 5: More Takeaways, Little Movement

Thank you to everyone who attended bargaining today.

Frankly, we left disappointed.

Management spent much of today's session focused on reducing or limiting contract provisions they believe cost the hospital money, while offering very little movement on the issues nurses have repeatedly identified as priorities.

Management's Proposals Included:

• Limiting consecutive weekend protections
• Reducing rest-between-shift protections related to callback work
• Increasing the amount of mandatory low census; moving to number of shifts rather than hours, meaning 12-hour employees will get more mandatory low census under management’s proposal than 8-hour employees
• Additional language aimed at reducing premium pay obligations

On Wages:

Management proposed:

• A counterproposal with a less compressed wage scale with 20 steps compared to our 15 steps.
• 2% wage increases each year for three years
• No movement on family healthcare costs
• Rejection of nearly all other economic proposals

Our Response:

We told management what many of you already know:

• Premium pay is not the cause of staffing problems.
• Premium pay exists because staffing is a problem.
• Island continues to lag behind surrounding employers on wages.
• Nurses should not be blamed for the hospital's financial challenges.

Several nurses spoke passionately about recruitment, retention, morale, and the reality of trying to provide excellent care while falling behind the market. With one nurse so upset after speaking she left in tears.

The Tone at the Table

The bargaining team was particularly discouraged by management’s tone during today's discussions. We came prepared to solve problems and move negotiations forward. Instead, much of the conversation focused on what nurses should give up rather than how Island Health can attract and retain the nurses this community depends on. 

At the end of the day when WSNA was giving it’s counterproposal, our lead negotiator characterized management’s most recent proposal as 2% per year for 6% over the life of the contract. To which the CFO interrupted asking “Do you know how math works?” The audible gasp in the room was almost as shocking as the silence that followed. It was beyond disappointing to watch one of our hospital leaders, people that are supposed to lead by example behave in such a disrespectful way. 

What's Next?

Your bargaining team will continue reviewing management's proposals and preparing our response for the next bargaining session on October 16.

We need your support now more than ever.

✅ Wear your WSNA t-shirts and bargaining buttons
✅ Talk with your coworkers
✅ Attend bargaining October 16, 20 and 26 if you can make it! TBD
✅ Stay in contact with your active WSNA co-workers about what’s happening

✅Attend the bargaining update  Thursday at 17:30 

The stronger and more united we are, the stronger our voice at the table.

Island Health runs because of nurses. We deserve a contract that recognizes that reality.

In Solidarity,
Christen Siedler
Ron Brutton
Clarisa Shook
Sarah O’Connell
Chris Fowler
Robin Cully

For questions or concerns, contact your officers or your Nurse Representative Robin Cully at rcully@wsna.org.