The Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) and the Employer met on Monday and Tuesday for our first two sessions of contract negotiations. We focused on presenting proposals addressing wages and premium pay, the functions of key joint committees that impact nurses’ day-to-day work, and strengthening our existing language based on our bargaining unit’s top priorities.

Initial Proposals and Economics

• WSNA’s Opening Proposals: During our first meeting with management on Monday, WSNA focused on our highest non-wage priorities. We made proposals that aimed at ensuring our units are fully staffed for every shift, making insurance more affordable to nurses throughout our bargaining unit, and protecting home health and hospice nurses’ rights while they’re on call.
• Premium Pay: Monday afternoon, we proposed a new incentive program designed to keep night shifts fully staffed all week long. We also proposed increased hourly rates for several categories of premium pay, including:
  • Shift differential.
  • Certification/Education pay.
  • Charge pay.
  • Standby pay
  • Call-back pay.
• Making Medical Coverage More Affordable: Over our first two days of bargaining, both bargaining teams seemed to agree that mitigating nurses’ rising healthcare costs – including our PEBB plan’s premiums for medical coverage – will be especially important this contract cycle. After WSNA initiated this discussion on Monday, management responded with proposed changes to health insurance premium coverage that show they’re taking this issue seriously as well. Our team will review their proposal so we can continue to make progress on this front next session.
• Wage Scale: WSNA presented a new wage scale and structure for the Employer to review during the next session. This update would bring us more in line with Puget Sound-area facilities, making us more competitive with hospitals in Western Washington.

Committee Discussions

Significant discussion was dedicated to clarifying and strengthening the language surrounding key joint committees that handle important topics like staffing plans and professional development. Much of our day Tuesday focused on finding ways to ensure these committees have clear purposes, provide nurses with relevant information, and lead to actionable outcomes.

The committees discussed were:

• Hospital Staffing Committee
• Conference Committee
• Nursing Staff Development (which has been re-titled the Clinical Excellence Committee)

We’re optimistic about the direction our conversations at the table have taken on these issues and hope to have more to share next week on how these committees will empower nurses to advocate for one another and continue to grow over the next contact cycle.

Observers

Chad Bearup from Home Health Hospice attended the second half of our Monday session as an observer and provided important information regarding the daily challenges faced by his unit.

Kelsi Young, representing M/S, was also an observer for this session and joined us as we presented our opening premium pay proposals Monday afternoon.

TAs (Tentative Agreements) Achieved

• Bulletin Boards- The employer has agreed to WSNA’S proposal for language that ensures bargaining unit may use bulletin boards in the nurses’ breakroom on each unit. Use may be on a shared space basis.
• Overtime- WSNA has agreed to change the current contract language from calculating OT to the nearest 15 minutes to the nearest minute.
• Voluntary PAC Contribution Deduction- The employer agreed to give nurses the option to make voluntary contributions to WSNA’s Political Action Committee using payroll deductions. Our union’s PAC gives RNs a voice in the state legislature by helping to elect pro-nurse candidates – regardless of their political party – across Washington.
• Low Census- Though our current contract language separates “Agency” nurses from “Travel” nurses in our low census order, WSNA accepted management’s proposal to combine those terms moving forward. This does not change the low census order for bargaining unit nurses.

Next Steps

The Employer is currently reviewing our proposed wage scale and structure. The teams are scheduled to meet again for the next bargaining session on Tuesday, October 28.

Want to join us at the table as an observer? Reach out to a member of the bargaining team for more details! Can’t join us? Wear your WSNA T-shirts to show your solidarity and support of the Bargaining Team! If you need a T-Shirt, contact Laurie Robinson or an Officer.

In Solidarity,
Kara Henderson, ED, Chair
Donna McCune, FBP, Co-Chair
Hanni Johnson, ED, Secretary
Erik Berkas, ED, Treasurer
Anji Bryant, Pre-OP, Grievance Officer
Jordan Simon, ED, Membership Officer

Questions/Concerns Contact Laurie Robinson, Nurse Representative,  lrobinson@wsna.org.

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

WSNA Membership: If you are not a WSNA member please consider completing a membership application today! Just click on the link!

YOU ARE WSNA!

FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

We have opened a private FB group and Instagram to provide rapid information, answer questions and to connect with other WSNA Bargaining units.

Please join today!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wsnakvh/

WSNA AT KITTITAS VALLEY HEALTHCARE (@wsna_kvh) • Instagram photos and videos