Negotiations for the Island Health nursing contract are approaching, with the current agreement set to expire on October 31, 2026. This process is a critical opportunity to address the issues that most directly affect nurses’ day-to-day work, including staffing, wages, scheduling, meal and rest breaks, and overall working conditions. Our goal is to enter bargaining with a clear, accurate understanding of what nurses are experiencing on the units and what priorities matter most to you.

To do that, we need your input. The attached negotiation survey is one of the most important tools we have to ensure nurses’ voices guide our proposals at the table. Survey responses help identify common concerns across units, highlight emerging issues, and give us concrete data to support bargaining positions. The stronger and broader the participation, the stronger our position when negotiating with the employer.

Whether you are a bedside nurse, procedural nurse, or charge nurse, your experience matters. Even if you feel that issues have been discussed before, completing the survey helps confirm whether those concerns remain widespread and ensures they are not minimized or overlooked during negotiations.

The negotiation survey is open as of today, February 13, and will close on Saturday, February 28. Please take a few minutes to complete the attached survey as soon as possible. This is your opportunity to directly influence bargaining priorities and outcomes. Thank you for staying engaged, supporting one another, and helping shape the future of nursing at Island Health.

ADOs – Advocacy Makes a Difference

The staffing committee at Island Hospital is one of the more effective and transparent staffing committees observed. There have been meaningful improvements that resulted directly from engagement through the Hospital Staffing Committee (HSC). After discussion with your officers, each Mailchimp update will include a brief fact about ADOs to strengthen shared understanding of their purpose and impact.

This round’s fact: ADOs are a trending tool. The HSC, L&I, and DOH monitor trends in ADO reporting over time. The HSC is intended to use ADO data collaboratively to identify and resolve recurring staffing concerns. While it may feel like your individual ADO was pushed aside, the HSC should be watching these and if they become part of a larger trend the data gives a more defined and global approach to solve the problem.

Questions or Concerns please reach out to your officers or your nurse rep, rcully@WSNA.org.

In Solidarity,

Mari Stewart RN – Chair
Christen Siedler, RN, BSN - Co-Chair
Christina Fowler, RN – Secretary
Ron Brutton, RN, BSN – Treasurer
Kristine Browne, BSN, RN - Grievance Officer