We met for our second day of mediation on June 5. We were joined by WSNA Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Anne Tan Piazza. Proposals were passed back and forth but very little progress was made. The team engaged in very candid discussion during our time together regarding our next steps.

We are holding a very important local unit meeting on the 11^th to provide information on what a strike is and what is involved. We are aware that many people have questions regarding a strike. This is your opportunity to get your questions answered.

Tuesday, June 11
Columbia room:
5:30 - 7 p.m.
7:30 - 9 p.m.

In Solidarity,
Your bargaining team:
Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab), Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions? Call WSNA Nurse Rep Jayson Dick, MBA, BSN, RN, at 206-858-2139.

It has come the attention of WSNA that members are being asked to remove their WSNA stickers and badge boards. Should you be approached by any member of administration and instructed to remove any WSNA items, please comply and then contact your Nurse Representative as soon as possible.

It is your RIGHT to participate in concerted union activity and show your support for the negotiating team. Any efforts by administration to interfere with your participation and silence your voice may be illegal. It is imperative that you contact your nurse rep immediately.

In Solidarity,

Jayson Dick, WSNA Nurse Representative

206-858-2139

Come decorate your own picket sign or help assemble the signs at the party. If you are working during our informational picket on Thursday this is a great way to show your support for the team!!

When: May 8 from 4pm -7pm

Where: 511 Van Giessen , Richland, WA 99352

Contact Tara Barnes, Nurse Organizer, at 206-713-2241

In Solidarity!

Your Negotiation Team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab), Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions? Call Nurse Organizer Tara Barnes at 206-713-2241

Sign up, show up for a fair contract!

Informational Picket May 9, 2 to 5 p.m.

In front of Kadlec

Are you willing to accept… Cuts to your PTO? Short staffing? Inadequate security against violence?

If your answer is NO, get out and picket!
Your bargaining team is fighting hard, but we can’t win without all of you behind us. Show administration you mean business by signing up and showing up.

Here’s what you can do to pressure administration by making this informational picket a success:

• Talk to your co-workers about how important it is to come to the picket and how important it is to RSVP by signing up on the picket sheet!
• Help sign up nurses to picket—we need hundreds on the line!
  If you do not have a picket-sign-up sheet, ask your coworkers or print out your own sheet
• Get your picket-sign-up sheet filled in, take a pic of it and return it to our nurse organizers ASAP: Judy Marken 206-454-9982 or Tara Barnes 206-713-2241
• Follow, like and share “Kadlec RNs Care for Us” on Facebook.
  Let others know you are going to the picket by registering for the event.

One strong voice against Providence’s attempts to put profits before patient safety:

While we’re picketing in Richland, Sacred Heart nurses will be picketing in Spokane. Together, we can make Providence listen – but only if YOU show up and do your part.

Do not forget to invite your family and friends.

If you have community connections with schools, churches, labor unions or other organizations, please make a point of inviting them, too! The picket will show our community how serious and dedicated we are about protecting our patients and our profession.

In Solidarity,
Your Negotiation Team: Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions? Call WSNA Nurse Rep Jayson Dick MBA, BSN, RN at (206)-858-2139.

Most of us were surprised to receive a “Bargaining Update” from KRMC in our mailbox recently. We’ve done our best to translate and rebut that letter below. We have picked out key things, in the order that they were presented in the mailer. Feel free to ask questions, we’ll do our best to answer. (Portions of the mailer are in bold and italicized).

“Although we usually have extension agreements during negotiations to keep the contract in effect, this time, at WSNA’s request, the contract lapsed on Sept. 30, 2018”.

This is accurate, however, please realize that you are still protected under the terms of the expired contract. Anyone who remembers the ordeal we faced three years will remember that in order for us, as a unified body, to do things like rallies, pickets or strikes we have to allow the contract to expire. Extension agreements, when the two parties are too far apart, benefit no one. KRMC has not shown us any indication that they are willing to budge on the takeaways they’ve proposed; therefore we’ve seen no reason to extend our contract and offer them certain protections against the actions mentioned above.

“We have offered increases that range from 2.25 to 2.5% in annual across-the-board increase, plus the existing step increase of approximately 2%.”

KRMC frequently likes to combine these two separate wage rates into one, to make their offer sound better than it actually is. The facts are these:

• The “average” step increase is 2%, however, there are steps where the increase is even less than 1%. For those people, their annual raise could be as low as 3% total.
• These steps are based on hours served, and if you’re a part-timer, you most likely won’t get a step raise every year.
• Rewarding experience and seniority in the nursing profession are not unique to KRMC. Almost every hospital pays its nurses this way and still keeps up with basic cost of living raises.

In case you haven't seen the chart circulating around Facebook, we've included it here:

“Ordinarily, you would have received increases on January 1^st”.

We won’t be made to feel guilty about fighting to get what you deserve. We will also fight for raises to be back-paid.

Parental Leave & Short Term Disability

KRMC spends the next couple of paragraphs introducing changes to our current STD plan. This includes increasing pay from 60% to 65% as well as extending STD benefits to new fathers. While we appreciate this, the reality is that Washington state, beginning in 2020 was already going to mandate these actions. And let’s not forget all of the downfalls of Short-Term Disability:

• 7 calendar days of your own time must be used before it goes into effect
• Third party administrator decides whether you’re granted your time off
• The last 3 years working with Sedgwick haven’t exactly been smooth sailing. There are many nurses who can attest to this.

They also conveniently failed to mention that any remaining EIB nurses may have will be lost in 2020.

Staffing Committees

“We have made proposals that align with the state law on Nurse Staffing Committees and do not agree to allow an outside third party to decide staffing disputes”.

You’d think a hospital wouldn’t fight us to assure that there are enough nurses hired to allow nurses their proper rest and meal breaks or enough scheduled to safely care for their patient load, but we just can’t seem to get them to agree to the most basic language stating this. Also, it’s a little ironic that a third party is no big deal when it comes to our medical time off disputes (Sedgwick), but suddenly KRMC doesn’t want to deal with a “third party” (WSNA) when it comes to staffing disputes.

Paid Time Off – a “Competitive PTO program”

Many of you have likely seen the chart circulated by us showing the loss of PTO. KRMC included a chart as well. Their own chart doesn’t lie and shows exactly how much PTO is lost every year. At almost every step past your two-year anniversary with KRMC, you LOSE PTO! At the 9 to 10-year mark, there’s a loss of almost 2 full weeks. There is zero justification for these proposed takeaways.

In addition to this, the maximum amount of PTO to keep in your bank has been drastically cut in their proposal. Our current contract allows for 480 hours to be banked. Here’s a brief history lesson: three years ago, as KRMC stole our EIB, the one concession WSNA wanted was the ability for nurses to accrue enough time off to cover a FMLA leave – since we could no longer rely on EIB. Remember, short term disability does NOT cover/pay you if you should need to use FMLA for a family member. KRMC now wants to take this away as well. Based on their proposal, the maximum amount of PTO to bank ranges from 300 hours to 420 hours after 15+ years’ experience.

“In order to help with the transition, we have proposed extra PTO for nurses who will earn less PTO under the new plan – up to 2 extra days in 2020 and 1 extra day in 2021”.

Frankly, we don’t need help with the transition. WE WON’T TAKE THE TRANSITION. We stand to lose almost 2 weeks of PTO every year. That cannot be replaced by a 1-time offer of 3 extra days. This concession is borderline insulting.

Union Membership

“WSNA has proposed that each nurse be required to pay dues or fees to be employed here.”

We are addressing this topic out of order, mostly to drive home the fact that this is KRMC’s favorite tool to cause division. First, it should be pointed out that WSNA has agreed to let current nurses working at KRMC to remain under the current language (opt out if desired). We are, though, fighting for all new hires to have fair share memberships to WSNA.

There is a reason KRMC wants to fight this so hard – they KNOW unions are powerful. This battle we are currently having, the battle we had three years ago, and any of the past battles we’ve had would never had taken place without a union, and nurses would have suffered significant losses. You don’t have to look very far to see the drastic difference: Kadlec Clinic Nurses are not covered under a union. Their wages & PTO benefits are significantly different than ours, not to mention they don’t have the protections from work redesign and/or layoffs the way we do. Unions are strong, and any attempt KRMC can take to divide us, is a win for them. Don’t be fooled by their motivation here.

We are strong, we are many, and we should not have to be fighting this hard for a fair contract. But we will!

In solidarity,

Your WSNA negotiating team: Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab), Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Rep Jayson Dick, MBA, BSN, RN at (206) 858-2139.

We will have our local unit meeting at the United Steel Workers hall on April 4. Right now, it is crucial our team hears from you as we determine our next course of action. Plan on attending this VERY important discussion with our negotiating team and Chief Negotiator Dave Campbell.

When: April 4 from 5:30 -7 p.m. and 7:30-9 p.m.
Where: United Steel Workers Hall
797 Stevens Dr, Richland, WA 99352

In Solidarity!

Your Bargaining team:
Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab), Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions?? Call WSNA Nurse Rep Jayson Dick MBA, BSN, RN at (206) 858-2139.

On Monday, March 18, we were able to meet with federal mediators for our first mediation session. Much of the day was invested in discussing our positions with the mediators. However, both sides were able to pass package proposals through the mediators.

After a highly energizing rally at John Dam Plaza, attended by hundreds of nurses and concerned community members, we were deeply disappointed by the lack of movement by the administration. Our bargaining team remains committed to negotiating a fair contract that will keep nurses and patients safe.

Right now, it is crucial that our team hears from you as we determine our next course of action. Plan on attending this VERY important discussion with our negotiating team and Chief Negotiator Dave Campbell. An update will be sent when we have a location that is large enough for us.

When: April 4 from 5:30-7 p.m. and 7:30-9 p.m.
Where: Location TBD

Our team would like to extend a huge thank you to all the nurses and community members that came out to support Kadlec nurses in fighting for safe patient care.

In Solidarity!

Your Bargaining Team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions?? Call WSNA Nurse Rep Jayson Dick MBA, BSN, RN at 1-206-858-2139.

The local unit meeting times have been updated by request. Our second session will be extended to 9 p.m. Be sure to attend this very important discussion with our negotiating team and Chief Negotiator Dave Campbell.

In Solidarity!

Your WSNA Negotiation Team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions? Call WSNA Nurse Rep Jayson Dick MBA, BSN, RN at 1-206-858-2139.

Our team met with administration for day 10 of negotiations.

We have remained firm on our position regarding: Staffing language, Work Place Violence, Medical Benefits and Paid Time Off.

We are very far apart from administration and will now move forward with mediation.

If you want a contract that maintains our PTO, maintains medical benefits for the life of the contract, supports safe staffing and pushes for meaningful changes to keep us safe at work; plan on attending the upcoming local unit meeting with our Chief Negotiator Dave Campbell.

Where: Round Table Pizza - 1435 George Washington Way, Richland

When: January 30 from 1730 -1900 and 1930-2000

*Yard signs, T-Shirts, and Badge boards will be available

In Solidarity!

Your Bargaining team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab), Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions?? Call your Nurse Rep Jayson Dick, MBA, BSN, RN 1-206-858-2139.

We met for session nine with the administration on Dec. 14. We are holding strong on our position to maintain our PTO, safe staffing and workplace violence language. Our negotiation team has spent a considerable amount of time reviewing Providence’s PTO proposal and it is a considerable takeaway.

We understand that there are still a lot of questions about the PTO proposal and what is meant by “block breaks.” Our team will be putting together our own fact sheet to help clarify these issues. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to our negotiating team with specific questions.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiation Team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions? Call our WSNA nurse representative, Jayson Dick, MBA, BSN, RN, at 206-858-2139.

We met with the administration on Dec. 10 for our eighth session of bargaining. We offered a full package proposal at 11 a.m. with hopes of reaching a tentative agreement. After 4 p.m., the administration returned with a partial response that did not include replies to our workplace violence language or staffing proposal. Furthermore, the administration's partial responses were predicated on us accepting their PTO proposal.

We would like to thank everyone who was able to attend the Unity dinner and leave messages on the posters that we presented to the administration yesterday. The administration is just not hearing us.

Talk to us, your negotiating team, and sign the petition to SAVE OUR PTO!

In solidarity,

Your Negotiation Team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions? Call our nurse rep, Jayson Dick, MBA, BSN, RN, at 206-858-2139.

Thank you to all who attended the Unity Dinner last night. The dinner was a huge success because you were there. Those who had to work or couldn’t attend due to other obligations, thank you for your support.

LU Co-Chair Jacob Garcia, RN presented a PowerPoint presentation that analyzed the employers’ PTO proposal. To those who want to see it again or see it for the first time, you can find it under the Contract & Documents tab or you can download it here.

If you have any questions regarding the proposal and what it means for you, feel free to contact Jayson Dick at Jayson.dick@wsna.org or 206-858-2139.

Remember to sign the Unity posters and the petition to show your support of our negotiating team.

In solidarity,

Your Negotiation Team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

We had a very productive day at the table and were able to reach a few tentative agreements.

We are still VERY far apart on key issues:

• We are fighting big takeaways to our PTO and Health Plan.
• We are insisting on better staffing and safety for patients
• Wages are still to come

Our team will be discussing these issues at our upcoming free unity dinner on Dec. 4., hosted by your negotiation team and officers.

Tuesday, Dec. 4
5-8 p.m.
Clover Island Inn, 4th floor
435 Clover Island Drive, Kennewick, WA
Send your RSVP to wsna@wsna.org.

Please plan to attend and RSVP if you haven’t done so already. You will be hearing from key speakers including our chief negotiator Dave Campbell and WSNA President Jan Bussert.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiation Team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

Questions? Call WSNA Nurse Rep Jayson Dick, MBA, BSN, RN at 206-858-2139.

Dear WSNA members at Kadlec,

For the past nine years, I have had the pleasure of serving as your WSNA nurse representative. I’ve seen tremendous growth in our local unit officers and the unit as a whole. While I am sad to say I have been reassigned, I am certain you are in great hands with Jayson Dick. Some of you may know him already as a former employee at Kadlec.

Jayson has been with WSNA in his nurse representative role for five years and has been doing an outstanding job. Please welcome him.

I will be finishing out negotiations and grievances that I have started and Jayson will now be taking on any new issues going forward.

His contact information is:

Jayson.dick@wsna.org
Cell: 206-858-2139

Thank you again for letting me serve you.

Sincerely,

Carmen Garrison, BSN, RN
WSNA Nurse Representative

Thank you to everyone who came out as a show of support. Your efforts mean a lot to the entire negotiating team.

Negotiations update: day six

On Nov. 13, day six of negotiations, we presented a new staffing proposal. There was some movement on workplace violence from management. They assured us that they are hiring more security and will be increasing signage regarding the zero-tolerance policy on aggressive behavior. We exchanged a number of counter-proposals; however, we are still far apart on many issues. We are working on scheduling more dates to meet with management. Our next session is on Nov. 27.

T-shirts are here

Come pick up your new WSNA T-shirts Thursday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Cafeteria.

Unity Dinner

Keep an eye on your email for more updates on the Dec. 4 Unity Dinner. Be sure to RSVP! We are lining up some speakers and working on the agenda. We’ll have WSNA Attorney David Campbell there to talk about the current climate of negotiations.

Safe nurses = safe patients

Your WSNA Negotiation Team: Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

Hosted by your negotiation team and officers

Tuesday, Dec. 4
5-8 p.m.
Clover Island Inn, 4th floor
435 Clover Island Drive, Kennewick, WA

Dinner and soft drinks will be provided

Send your RSVP to wsna@wsna.org.

Sedgwick issues and survey:

Having problems with Sedgwick? We need to hear from you. We’ve been told by management/HR that Sedgwick is working just fine and that there haven’t been any issues. We, your nurse representative and LU officers, have been hearing differently. If you have had to use Sedgwick in the past three years, take a few minutes to fill out the Sedgwick survey. We need this information by our next session – please do not wait.

Next steps for negotiations:

We have two more dates scheduled for negotiations and anticipate having to schedule more dates. Our confirmed dates are Nov. 13 and 27.

Update on T-shirts:

We are hoping to have the T-shirts in by our next negotiation session on Nov. 13. More to come on how to get your T-shirt as well as other activities. Check the LU website and FB page regularly.

STAT Team meeting:

If you are on our STAT team or would like to be more involved, our next STAT meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 29, from 5:30-7 p.m. and 7:15-8:15 p.m. We’ll be meeting in Columbia I and II.

Support SEIU 1199:

SEIU is still in negotiations for their first contract at Kadlec. Show your support by wearing their stickers. Communicate support to your co-workers who also want a fair contract.

After negotiations on Monday, Marianne Sturtevant, Jacob Garcia, Vanessa Douglas and Carmen Garrison met with Washington State Senator Sharon Brown to discuss the recent incidents of workplace violence at Kadlec. Senator Brown was interested to hear directly from nurses about what is needed to help prevent and respond to workplace violence.

Hearing information about the lack of security guards, physical features of patient rooms that are potentially unsafe and the lack of adequate training made an impression on the Senator, whose mom was a nurse. Senator Brown is interested in sponsoring legislation to address workplace violence in the 2019 legislative session.

Meet with Legislators TONIGHT

As demonstrated by the meeting with Senator Brown, now is the best time to meet with legislators to get support for workplace violence legislation in the 2019 session. Right now, legislators can spend 30-60 minutes with us, totally focused on nursing issues. During session, we are lucky to get 10-15 minutes of their time, during which distractions are likely to arise.

You can make a difference TODAY by showing up to the Nurses Speak event tonight. This event will show legislators and candidates why they need to address workplace violence this coming legislative session. Your voice, your stories, and most importantly, your ideas for solutions are critically important at this phase in the process.

Please join us tonight - you are welcome to participate even if you have not registered for the event:

Nurses Speak - Kennewick
Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Red Lion Hotel Kennewick Columbia Center (1101 N Columbia Center Blvd Kennewick, WA 99336)

We started today with a strong safety proposal that sets minimum standards to protect nurses from violence, would create a committee with equal members from WSNA that would address violence issues throughout the hospital and would provide income assurance for victims of violence. We asked for action now! We’re waiting for their counter proposal on this.

Team members advocated for nurses regarding floating, which is a high priority. The overuse and abuse of floating and its safety consequences to patients, was described in detail by your team.

Prime-time PTO requests were also addressed, hoping to fix the broken system. At 16:44 management gave us their PTO proposal which has major negatives that include lower caps on PTO accrual, loss of benefits for some employees, and mixed results for the rest. We are still analyzing this proposal. Management are also proposing to cut off use of accrued EIB at the end 2020. We are committed to protecting everyone’s PTO and accrued EIB!

Our next date is November 13. We are working with management for more dates. Watch for further communication from WSNA.

As you may have heard, on Oct. 9, WSNA filed a workplace violence complaint with the Division of Occupational Safety & Health of the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, regarding safety issues at KRMC. As a result of filing that claim, Tammy Garren, GSP, Safety Inspector with the Department of Labor and Industries, started an unannounced visit the following morning (Oct. 10). She is here to investigate the violations WSNA cited in the complaint.

While she is at the hospital, she will be accompanied by Christina Mackey and Nicole Searls. You have a right to request that they leave the room. You are protected by L&I against any retaliation. If you feel intimidated by asking upper management to leave the room, ask your WSNA Local Unit representatives to be present. On-site interviews are during work time. This will not be counted as your lunch or break.

You also have the option of contacting her directly:

Tammy Garren, GSP
D: 509-886-6553
C: 509-222-8804
1-800-292-5920
Fax: 509-886-6510
gatl235@Lni.wa.gov

We had our fourth day of negotiations with management on Oct. 9, 2018. Our entire team contributed to the passionate discussion regarding staffing issues and our staffing proposal at KRMC. We advocated for our bargaining unit regarding staffing concerns and gave management examples of how short-staffed we nurses are.

We notified management that we filed a DOSH (Department of Safety and Health) complaint with L&I over the Hospital’s lack of compliance regarding workplace violence. We are working to assure that safety is a critical issue now!

Management heard your voices, saw the stickers and nurses wearing blue. Management backed off their demand of having part-time nurses pay full premiums, but there are still major benefit issues on the table. Stay tuned.

Management provided us with their economic proposal – their offer is 2% across the board, 2% raises in 2019, 2% in 2020 and 2% in 2021. We believe this is a good start. They have committed to preserving the current steps.

We still have many open proposals and discussion items. Our next dates are Oct. 15 and Nov. 13.

In Unity and Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Team: Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Maryanne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI).

STAT meetings:

• Oct. 10 at 7:30 - 9 p.m. in the Columbia II (3^rd floor Mountain Pavilion) – Meet Tammy Garren from the Department of Labor and Industries. She will be attending the meeting.
• Oct. 11 at 7:30-9 a.m. in the Ringold room (1^st floor near the tower elevators)

• Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Hampton Inn, Bradley Blvd, Richland – Meet and greet with Senator Sharon Brown

Workplace Violence

We began the day with demands that the management take immediate steps to improve the hospital’s security. While we plan to make a comprehensive proposal on safety in negotiations, your team stood tall and asked management to take steps to protect nurse safety now! We demanded (1) increase in security personnel, preferably off-duty police and more guards, (2) immediate posting of large prominent signs announcing to patients and visitors Kadlec’s stated no tolerance policy for physical and verbal abuse by patients and visitors in every unit and patient room and (3) placement of guards on all patients with a history of violence in the hospital. While being non-committal on most issues, the hospital has taken a small first step by placing letter size signs announcing “Zero Tolerance” of all “Aggressive Behavior” at nursing stations.

Last week, management planned a meeting with the police to address workplace violence (“WPV")

We were supposed to meet with management and the police to address immediate security concerns, but management announced that the Officer they work with had been reassigned. Rest assured, this issue is being pursued and we are demanding the meeting on our scheduled session on Oct. 15. WPV must be addressed now!

Healthcare benefits

Management wants the right to force part-time employees to pay their entire health care premium, both for nurses and their dependents. They want a fight! We countered with a strong maintenance of benefits clause to force management to obtain your agreement to any changes to the existing Medical Plan.

Staffing and Staffing Committee

We proposed a comprehensive staffing proposal which adds strength to the new State Staffing law and (1) includes guaranteed safeguards to force management to vote with nurses on staffing issues and (2) requires that staffing be adequate to assure breaks, PTO and nursing safety and health.

Use of PTO for union members on our negotiating team

They have agreed not to force team members to use PTO by allowing them to take the day off unpaid.

Our next session is Oct. 9.

We will be having the following meetings with our members. Please plan to attend one of these meetings:

• Oct. 10 at 7:30 - 9 p.m. in the Columbia II (3^rd floor Mountain Pavilion)
• Oct. 11 at 7:30-9 a.m. in the Ringold room (1^st floor near the tower elevators)

Thank you to all those who showed support by wearing the #EndNurseAbuse stickers and wearing blue in solidarity.

We continue to collect your stories of workplace violence (WPV). We are asking you to take pictures of you/your coworkers wearing the #EndNurseAbuse stickers and holding signs of support and solidarity.

Please send those stories and pictures to WSNA Nurse Representative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org.

We show up, we stand up, we speak up.

In unity and solidarity,

Your WSNA negotiating team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Ryan McCauley (ICU) Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI)

We had a very productive meeting last night

Thank you all who were able to attend. This is a time for us all to be united as one. Our next meetings will be held after our Oct. 9 negotiation date.

Save the dates and plan on attending one of these meetings on Oct. 10 from 7:30-9 p.m. and Oct. 11 from 7:30-9 a.m., location to be determined.

The key moving forward is that we all stand together with one voice.

Please wear blue on Oct. 4 and Oct. 9 to support us, your negotiation team and continue to take pictures of nurses on your unit holding signs of support and unity and send them to cgarrison@wsna.org.

ED assailant charged with assault

The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against the patient who assaulted three nurses, one physician and a security officer on Sept. 9. We applaud the prosecutor for recognizing the seriousness of the incident and the nurses who stepped forward: Jessica Murphy, Karina Bethje and Michael Trunkey.

This is another significant step in our efforts to #EndNurseAbuse now—at Kadlec and across the state and nation.

What takeaways were proposed by management? What progress did we make on workplace safety?

Day two negotiation update:
On the afternoon of our second day, we finally received some of Management’s opening proposals. Proposals are merely management’s wishes; their opening gambit. Your bargaining team is ready for the long fight to come.

Major benefit cuts proposed:
Management is proposing major cuts and premium increases to medical benefits. Late on day two, management finally provided some of their opening proposals, which include:

• Eliminating The Employer’s Payment of 70% of the cost of dependent coverage for part-time employees;
• Tying future medical premium to what a “majority” of employees pay, and raising the premium rate increases for full-time employees from 7% to 15% per year for 2019, and 2020;
• Eliminating the last fully paid employer premium for the Hospital’s core plan in 2020, cutting the Employer contribution to 95%; and
• Reserving the right to impose further cuts and changes during the Agreement.

While management also proposed a parental leave program which they have yet to fully explain, this hardly offsets the proposed cuts. We, your bargaining team will be aggressively forcing management to turn over the detailed data on their Plan, and stand united in opposition to these cuts!

Workplace Violence challenged with demands for change:
Your bargaining team demanded immediate talks on fixing the major security lapses at Kadlec, exemplified by the recent incidents in ED and ICU. Christine Watts, WSNA’s Senior Director of Labor, laid out a powerful argument that Kadlec is falling far short of protecting its nurses. Relying on WSNA survey responses, and the terrible recent incidents, your bargaining team demanded we meet next week to intervene immediately. In addition, your brave nurses who have been recent victims have stepped forth to speak to the media and post to the internet to raise the entire Nation’s awareness of this critical issue.

Contract termination – no reason to worry:
Kadlec’s communication of yesterday appears calculated to make you worry about WSNA’s notice to terminate your current contract on Nov. 11. Do not be concerned. While the termination of the CBA allows WSNA to take more aggressive action to support its demands, and temporarily limits arbitrations, Federal Law guarantees that all your working conditions, wages and other rights will remain intact. In short, you will notice no change at all in your working conditions.

Your bargaining team is fighting hard on what may be a long road to defeat takeaways and achieve your bargaining priorities; we will be strong, smart and strategic. Be patient and we will keep you fully informed.

Upcoming dates of negotiations are Oct. 4, Oct. 9 and Oct. 15. We are currently looking for more dates.

In solidarity,

Your negotiating team:

Jacob Garcia (CDU)
Martha Galvez (Birth Center)
Vanessa Douglas (ICU)
Toni Ledridge (PAS)
Kathy Peot (Resource)
Marianne Sturtevant (OR)
Meri Bukovinsky (CDU)
Joyce McMurphy (NICU)
(Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab)
Joy Barclay (DI)

For any questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org or at 206-575-7979, ext. 3113.

Concerns and questions about your safety and safe staffing?
WSNA Senior Director of Labor Christine Watts, MN, RN and WSNA Occupational and Environmental Health Specialist Karen Bowman, MN, RN, COHN-S will be holding cafeteria time to hear your questions and concerns.

• Wednesday, Sept. 26, 7 – 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Cafeteria

Be in the know. Attend a post negotiations meeting. Get the latest negotiation update and add your voice to the conversation:

• Thursday, Sept. 27, from 5-8 p.m. in Columbia rooms 2 & 3 on the 3rd floor of the Mountain Pavilion.

Wear your buttons and show your union solidarity. Take pictures in your units wearing the buttons and holding signs of support for our team and each other (examples: United for Safety, RNs deserve a fair contract, Protect our Nurses). Email those pictures to WSNA Nurse Representative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org or text to 206-491-9424.

More media coverage of the assault on Ashley Leilani Schade and three nurses in the Emergency Department at Kadlec. Read the Tri-City Herald article

Additional assault charges expected from the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office expected this week related to the attack in the ER earlier this month. Stay tuned for more information.

Hold the date for the Nurses Speak event with legislators and candidates. This event is a unique opportunity for them to hear about the challenges you face on the job every day: October 17, 5-6:30 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel in Kennewick.

Add your voice to our Workplace Violence & Safe Staffing Survey. Just 1 out of every 4 respondents so far say they have enough staff the to handle the workload on their unit. What about your unit?

Since our last communication with you, much has happened around the recent workplace violence incidents at Kadlec.

• Assailant charged – We applaud law enforcement’s response in this case. The Benton County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a Second Degree Assault charge against the assailant in the ICU attack.
• Ashley’s story goes viral - Ashley Schade, our colleague in ICU who was assaulted, has bravely stepped forward to shed light on this urgent issue of workplace violence against nurses. Her Facebook post has garnered more than 46k shares and 14k comments.
• Media coverage – We are glad to see the media attention on this important issue and proud of our union stepping forward to demand change. “Washington state law compels employers to ‘[d]o everything reasonably necessary to protect the life and safety of your employees.’ WSNA is committed to holding hospitals accountable for following the law and protecting nurses, and all other hospital employees, from violence and abuse.”
  • KEPR News Coverage
• Administration response – Kadlec administration has responded to our demand for action letter. We are pleased to hear their intentions to support the nurses impacted and immediate attention to this serious safety issue. We will hold them accountable in working with our nurses on immediate and ongoing solutions to make Kadlec a safe workplace. Read their response.

Here’s what you can do to assist our efforts to make Kadlec a safe workplace for our nurses and our patients:

1. Take the survey – Thanks to the more than 120 nurses who have already taken the survey. If you haven’t please take 7 minutes to add your voice to our Workplace Violence & Safe Staffing survey. Your personal information will be kept confidential.

2. Come share your safety concerns and ask your questions - WSNA Senior Director of Labor Christine Watts and WSNA Occupational and Envirnomental Health Specialist Karen Bowman will be holding cafeteria time on Wednesday, Sept. 26 from 7-9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

3. Be visibly supportive of the issues and each other. Wear WSNA buttons now through our next day of negotiations on Tuesday, Sept. 25. You can get them from Martha Galvez in the birth center.

4. Show your union solidarity. Take pictures in your units wearing the buttons and holding signs of support for our team and each other (examples: United for Safety, RNs deserve a
fair contract, Protect our Nurses). Email those pictures to WSNA Nurse Representative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org or text to 206-491-9424.

5. Stay informed and involved. Together, we can and must make Kadlec a safe place for our nurses, colleagues and patients. Attend a post negotiations meeting on Thursday, Sept. 27, from 5-8 p.m. in the Ringold Room at the hospital to get the latest negotiation update and add your voice to the conversation.

From your local unit officers,

Martha Galvez, Chair
Jacob Garcia, Vice Chair
Vanessa Douglas, Secretary
Joan Guercia, Treasurer
Kathy Peot, Grievance Officer
Toni Ledridge, Grievance Officer
Raquel Johnson, Member-at-Large
Carmen Garrison, WSNA Nurse Rep

Nurses at Kadlec shouldn’t be afraid for our lives when we go to work, yet several nurses were seriously assaulted by the very patients for whom they were caring. The two most recent preventable events in the ED and ICU have brought to light the risk that every nurse takes on a daily basis.

It’s time to take action:

1. We have taken immediate and swift action. A demand for action letter was sent to the CAO and CNO on Tuesday, Sept. 18, insisting they respond to this serious threat to nurses and staff. View the urgent letter here.

2. The recent incidents are not isolated. Many of us have been victims or have witnessed violence in our workplace. Please take a few minutes to fill out our Workplace Violence & Safe Staffing survey. Your personal information will be kept confidential.

3. Together, we can and must make Kadlec a safe place for our nurses, colleagues and patients. Attend a post negotiations meeting on Thursday, Sept. 27, from 5-8 p.m. in the Ringold Room at the hospital.

• Wear WSNA buttons now through our next day of negotiations on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
• Take pictures on your units wearing the buttons and holding signs and send it to WSNA Nurse Representative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org or text to 206-491-9424.

From your local unit officers,

Martha Galvez, Chair
Jacob Garcia, Vice Chair
Vanessa Douglas, Secretary
Joan Guercia, Treasurer
Kathy Peot, Grievance Officer
Toni Ledridge, Grievance Officer
Raquel Johnson, Member-at-Large
Carmen Garrison, WSNA Nurse Rep

We had our first session with management on Sept. 12. We gave the employer our opening proposal. We have not received a response but were told by their chief negotiator that they would have something for us by 9 a.m. on Sept. 25 (our next scheduled date).

We were informed Tuesday, Sept. 11 (one day before our first session) that the employer had retained an outside counsel, other than the attorney with whom we had been communicating.

As a result of this, two of the dates we had confirmed were cancelled by the employer. We have confirmed two other dates, Oct. 4 and Oct. 15. The employer is making it difficult for our team members to get the days off for negotiations, telling them that it’s not management’s responsibility to make the needed schedule changes because our team chose not to use IBB (Interest Based Bargaining). This is a union busting tactic.

We conveyed your interests to management based on communications with you, our entire Bargaining Unit of nurses, through individual conversations and what you submit to us on the Negotiation Survey. The HOT issues we are making proposals are staffing and floating.

What can you do to show support for your WSNA negotiating team?

• Wear your WSNA buttons every day, now through our next date, Sept. 25.
• Get ready for action and keep reading our negotiation updates!

Confirmed dates for Negotiations:

• Sept. 25
• Oct. 4
• Oct. 9
• Oct. 15

Your negotiating team members are: Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI).

Let them know you appreciate their commitment to negotiating on your behalf.

If you have any questions, contact any of the negotiation team members or WSNA Nurse Representative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org.

Thank you to all who completed the negotiations survey! Your input is valuable as we prepare for upcoming negotiations. We would like to introduce you to the negotiating team: Martha Galvez, Jacob Garcia, Joan Guercia, Vanessa Douglas, Kathy Peot, Toni Ledridge, Joy Barclay, Joyce McMurphy, Marianne Sturtevant, Meri Bukovinsky, Ryan McCauley and Tony Jones.

Here’s an update on what’s happening in your local unit:

• We had officer training in June
• There is a Department Local Unit Rep Training on Aug. 23, 5 – 7 p.m. in Columbia Room I & II. Thank you, those who have stepped up to represent your department. We are always looking for more reps! Please feel free to join us if you are interested.
• We have had two negotiation prep meetings and have another scheduled for Aug. 24. We will be meeting with the Attorney, Dave Campbell, on Aug. 28.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Your Local Unit Officers,

Martha Galvez, Jacob Garcia, Joan Guercia, Vanessa Douglas, Kathy Peot and Toni Ledridge

Your survey for negotiations is now online. Please complete this survey no later than midnight, Aug. 1.

Please take a few minutes to communicate what your issues are going into negotiations this year. It is important that we, as your negotiation team, understand your concerns for our new contract!

Your negotiating team: Martha Galvez, Jacob Garcia, Joan Guercia, Vanessa Douglas, Raquel Johnson, Marianne Sturtevant, Joyce McMurphy, Ryan McCauley, Kathy Peot and Meri Bukovinsky (to date).

Thank you to all who helped and those who attended our special event honoring the nurses at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.

We had another successful Nurses Week Breakfast. Pictures are available here.

A special thanks to all who made this possible:

Martha Galvez, Kyleaha Collis, Marianne Sturtevant, Ryan Rosenkranz, Nancy Serna, Narda Leeming, Kathy Peot, and Kay Langevin

Come and join us in celebrating nurses, enjoy door prizes, time with coworkers and meet your new WSNA executive team.

When: Tuesday, May 8 from 6 to 10 a.m.

Where: Columbia I-III

Chair: Martha Galvez

Vice Chair: Kimberley Cole-Lowry

Secretary: Vanessa Douglas

Treasurer: Joan Guercia

Grievance officers

• Kathy Peot
• Megan Tanke

Membership at Large officers:

• Raquel Johnson
• Jacob Garcia

Some things to be aware of...

Elections

Elections are in full swing. The ballots were mailed out April 3. Please return them postmarked no later than April 17. Only members in good standing will receive a ballot. If you do not receive a ballot by April 9, please contact your WSNA nurse representative, Carmen Garrison, at cgarrison@wsna.org.

Local unit meeting

Join us in a local unit meeting on April 23 from 5 - 8 p.m. in Chinook 1 & 2. Drop in anytime. We want to hear from you as well as update you on upcoming events such as negotiations.

Nurses Day event

We’ll be having our Nurses Day Recognition Breakfast on May 8 from 6 - 10 a.m. in Columbia 1-3. We need help! Please contact your WSNA nurse representative, Carmen Garrison, at cgarrison@wsna.org if you can help in any way with this event.

Leadership Summit

Registration is now open for the WSNA Leadership Summit on September 8, at the Red Lion in Kennewick. All RNs are encouraged to attend. This is free to all RNs who are WSNA members in good standing. You will receive CNEs (Continuing Nursing Education) credit for attending this event.