What’s in this newsletter:

• Nominations for New Officers
• HSC
• KVH Clinic Nurses
• Kittitas Health Valley Healthcare Board of Commissioners Letter
• Grievances
• Lauren’s Lap

Officer Nomination and Upcoming Election:

A notice has been distributed to all KVH nurses and posted on the unit webpage regarding the upcoming Officer Election.

Voting will take place electronically from 6:00 a.m. on September 9 through 6:00 a.m. on September 10. Eligible voters will receive an electronic ballot at their personal email address when voting opens.

Please note that only WSNA members are eligible to vote in the election and hold an officer position.

If you would like to become a member, or if you do not receive a ballot when voting begins, please contact Laurie Robinson, Nurse Representative, for assistance.

Hospital Staffing Committee:

• Rest and Meal Breaks: Beginning July 1, 2026, KVH must collect and submit quarterly data on compliance. L&I has the authority to issue penalties for hospitals that exceed the threshold of less than 80% for missed rest and meal periods. KVH will submit it in October.
• Staff RNs should ensure that they document missed breaks and if they are untimely.
• Meal Waivers: May need to be updated as there is a concern they are not being tracked. There needs to be education on this by leadership.
• Providing assistance to other units during periods of immediate need. There is a discussion for cross training.

Key Themes Across July ADOs

1. Unscheduled call offs were the dominant issue, accounting for most ED complaints and contributing to the Med Surg complaint. 
2. Inability to obtain replacement staff led to floating personnel, coverage gaps, and missed breaks. 
3. Workload and role overload concerns appeared in both the ED and Home Health/Hospice ADOs. 
4. Staffing matrix compliance and clarity were significant concerns in the Med Surg ADO. 
5. Patient safety concerns were raised throughout the submissions due to staffing shortages, high acuity, and nurses being required to perform multiple functions simultaneously

** Document on each ADO that you have notified the House Supervisor before you submit. We have no expectation this would lead to a punitive situation only that we need verification that leadership notification has been accomplished. 

KVH Clinic Nurses Continue Their Fight for Representation

PERC has scheduled a hearing for September 16 and 17. Both sides will present their positions, and PERC will decide whether the clinic nurses should join the existing bargaining unit.

If you would like to attend, the PERC hearing is open to the public.  It involves witness testimony, cross-examination, and physical or digital exhibits.  Nurses and community members can watch and listen as long as they stay muted. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://perc-wa-gov.zoom.us/j/87165987738?pwd=YYutCyGc1a3q3abvynOtmxSmc5Sbhz.1___.YXAzOndzbmE6YTpvOjQzOWQ3MmI1MjE2Mjg2ZTI5YzI4NzUxNDYzYTRkZjYyOjc6MjdhODowZDYzMDVkNjUwZGY5NDFkODFhMWE4ZWE5NmYxYmUzMTEyZTc3MzZlNWM0NWM3ZGI1MTJmZDljNjE3MDg0MmE3OnQ6RjpG
Meeting ID: 871 6598 7738
Passcode: 850822
One tap mobile
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+12532158782,,87165987738# US (Tacoma)

KVH Board of Commissioners- Letter of Concern

At the July 23 KVH Board of Commissioners meeting, the Board voted to discontinue posting meeting recordings on YouTube and to stop publishing full board packets online. Going forward, only basic meeting agendas will be posted publicly.

The Officers and WSNA sent a letter of concern and disappointment to each of the board members and Jason Alder. As of today, there are no minutes nor link to the meeting.

Read the letter here.

Grievance Update:

Work on Day Off Premium Pay

A recent grievance addressed how the employer interprets the contract provision governing premium pay for nurses who work on a scheduled day off. The union argued that the employer's application of the language was inconsistent with past practice and the parties' understanding of the contract. 

In its Step 2 response, the employer maintained that the premium applies only when a nurse is contacted and asked by the employer to work on a day off. The employer argued that voluntarily signing up for open shifts in advance does not meet the definition of being "called in" and therefore does not qualify for the premium. The employer further stated that requests may be made through various communication methods, including phone calls, texts, emails, or other approved notification platforms. 

The employer also contended that the intent of the contract language was to compensate nurses for unexpected disruptions to their personal time, rather than to provide premium pay for all voluntarily accepted extra shifts. In addition, the employer rejected the claim that a binding past practice existed, asserting that the provision had been applied inconsistently across departments and that management took steps to standardize its application once concerns were identified. 

Based on its interpretation of the contract and its assessment of the evidence presented, the employer denied the grievance and concluded that no contract violation occurred. 

This grievance has been advanced to Step 3. When we have a date set, we will notify nurses who would like to attend.

Pay in Lieu of Benefits and Unpaid Time Off

A recent grievance challenged the employer's interpretation of the contract provision for part-time nurses who elect to receive an additional 15% of base pay in lieu of benefits. The union argued that nurses who choose this option should not lose the ability to request unpaid time off and that the contract does not expressly prohibit such requests.

In its Step 2 response, the employer maintained that the language of the agreement reflects an understanding that nurses who elect the 15% premium waive all fringe benefits, including unpaid time off, except where the contract specifically preserves unpaid emergency leave. The employer argued that the inclusion of emergency leave as an exception demonstrates that other forms of unpaid leave are not available under this benefit election.

The employer also rejected arguments regarding inconsistent application of the provision, stating that any differences in interpretation between departments are addressed through education and correction when identified. In addition, the employer asserted that vacation language elsewhere in the contract does not apply to the interpretation of the pay-in-lieu provision.

The response further stated that nurses who elect the 15% premium voluntarily exchange certain benefits and scheduling flexibility for additional compensation. According to the employer, nurses who desire greater flexibility for time away from work have alternative options, including remaining in a benefited position or transitioning to a per diem role.

While denying that any unequal treatment has occurred, the employer has offered a temporary opportunity for affected nurses to either discontinue the 15% premium and regain access to additional time away from work or transition to a per diem position with greater scheduling flexibility. The employer emphasized that any nurses choosing a per diem position would be subject to the same expectations and scheduling requirements as other per diem employees.

This grievance was advanced to Step 3 and was heard on August 27th with Jason Alder. The response is due September 6th.

Lauren McCluskey Race

Lauren McCluskey was a 21-year-old Pullman native and University of Utah student, standout track and field athlete, and communications major. In October 2018, she was murdered on the University of Utah campus by a former boyfriend after she had repeatedly sought help regarding stalking, harassment, and threats. Her death drew national attention and led to significant scrutiny of campus safety practices and law enforcement responses to reports of stalking and intimate partner violence.

Following her death, her family became advocates for campus safety reform. The Lauren McCluskey Foundation was established to promote student safety, support victims of relationship violence and stalking, and advance policy changes aimed at preventing similar tragedies.

We are looking for 12 nurses to volunteer with us on Saturday October 17, 2026. This is our third year partnership with the Lauren McCluskey Foundation to provide basic first aid and water stations on their racecourse. This event focuses on increasing campus safety awareness related to domestic violence reporting in honor of Lauren McCluskey. All supplies will be provided including T-shirts and a free lunch! Commitment is roughly 9 am-1 pm. 

Take a moment and indicate your interest here so we can continue supporting this vital community event.

Sign me up!

In Solidarity,

KVH Officers:
Kara Henderson, ED, Chair
Donna McCune, FBP, Co-Chair
Hanni Johnson, ED, Secretary
Erik Berkas, ED, Treasurer
Anji Bryant, SOP, Grievance Officer
Jordan Simon, ED, Membership Officer

Questions/Concerns Contact Laurie Robinson, Nurse Representative, 206-620-4136,  lrobinson@wsna.org.

For more information on how you can get involved contact Jenny Galassi, Nurse Organizer, 206-707-2948, jgalassi@wsna.org.