WE ARE NOT MILK!

Today, management proposed a wage counter of 2%, per year for 3 years -- A total of 6% over 3 years. This leaves Island behind CURRENT WAGES at the conclusion of the next contract.  This means in 2030 Island Health RNs would still be making less than other local RNs are now. Management declined every other economic proposal we offered, other than an additional 50 cents for charge nurses and coordinators. They also declined any changes in making our healthcare more affordable for people with families.

THE REASON??

They blamed the current financial situation on a lack of patient volume. Curiously, we asked if the daily census has gone up and they agreed that the average daily census only increased in ACU. Management is also concerned regarding the cost of premium wages in the contract. Management claims that premium wages are an unsustainable burden to Island Health. The negotiating team reminded management that the reason premium pay is needed because of a lack of recruitment and retention due to low wages. Management appeared to be unmoved by this illustration and was concerned that staffing holes were a result of “call offs” and “generational changes”.

We proposed an innovative solution of compressing the wage scale to keep experienced nurses where they are on the scale and bring new nurses up to a competitive market rate. Is our economic proposal robust? Absolutely, but so are we! We have offered a multitude of options to increase compensation in creative ways but a global decline of all of those ideas was disappointing and leaves nurses in a position to negotiate against themselves without your help. Please continue to wear your buttons! Take pictures and tag @WSNA_IslandHealth on Instagram! Don’t have the socials or the IG? Send to your local unit officers or nurse rep or post on the Island Facebook page.

Island nurses are the CREAM OF THE CROP! We are not 2% milk. Help us help you!  We need your support to get a strong and fair contract.

We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at 1045am at the NW education center. Please come and show your support!

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.