The WSNA bargaining team and The KVH employer team worked on several key items on Tuesday, October 28.

We were able to secure the following Tentative Agreements

1. Management will take on a bigger portion of our health premium costs. Starting in 2026, management will pay an additional 5% of the premium for our health insurance benefits. That means more money in nurses’ pockets across the board. For full-time nurses, management will cover the full premium for nurse-only coverage on the core plan, 85% of the premium for nurse and dependent coverage or nurse and spouse coverage, and 77% of the premium for full family coverage. For nurses working 0.74 FTE, management will pay 90% of the premium for nurse-only coverage on the core plan, 70% of the premium for nurse and dependent coverage or nurse and spouse coverage, and 65% of the premium for full family coverage. If you’re not on the core plan, management will still cover the equivalent dollar amount on the plan you do elect.
2. Every nurse will move up a step on the wage scale on their anniversary date, regardless of their FTE or per diem hours. That means nurses will move up the wage scale more quickly, putting more money in your pocket faster.
3. We finalized language that establishes a new Clinical Excellence Committee and defined its roles and responsibilities. This committee will be aimed at getting nurses more access to professional development opportunities and implementing the most up-to-date practices across our bargaining unit.
4. A commitment to establish a clinical ladder program over this contract cycle through the new committee. Though we explored proposing a clinical ladder at the table, we didn’t want to rush through a process that requires input and expertise from across our bargaining unit. Over the next three years, our new Clinic Excellence Committee will be in charge of establishing and maintaining a new clinical ladder so nurses can grow in their careers and see their pay increase accordingly.

Your WSNA bargaining team proposed language addressing how vacation leave and sick leave interact so we can maximize our available time off without leaving our units understaffed.  Though management hasn’t responded to our most recent proposal yet, we’ve found a lot of common ground and are hopeful that we’ll reach an agreement that gets nurses more access to paid time off when they want it.

We also proposed language updating our Per Diem work requirements and Work on Day Off rules designed to ensure we’re fully staffed as often as possible.

Next Bargaining Days

Our next days at the table are November 21, December 2, December 9, and December 12. Want to join us as an observer? Reach out to a bargaining team member to let us know! We’ll tell you when and where to show up so your attendance makes the biggest possible impact.

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!

https://wsnaonlineapplicationportalwsnaprod.powerappsportals.com/

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