Grievance Win: PIPs Removed!
Earlier this year, WSNA filed a grievance challenging MultiCare’s use of performance improvement plans (PIPs). Our position was clear: MultiCare was using PIPs as discipline while treating them as coaching.
Nurses were denied union representation during PIP meetings, even though the plans threatened immediate termination and restricted opportunities such as transferring within MultiCare. These consequences supported our position that the PIPs were disciplinary, and that denying representation was unacceptable.
We reached a settlement requiring MultiCare to remove all PIPs issued in the past six months. Going forward, MultiCare will use coaching instead of PIPs.
This win reinforces why it matters to speak up, involve your union, and challenge practices that undermine nurses’ rights.
Other Grievance Updates
On October 14, WSNA met with MultiCare for four back-to-back Step 3 grievance meetings addressing:
- Mandatory meeting pay: Failure to provide the two-hour minimum payment.
- Education funds: Failure to implement the increase negotiated in our new contract.
- Extra shift cancellations: Improper cancellation of nurses who would qualify for less-rest premium pay.
- Union involvement: Management’s exclusion of union nurses from a meeting because they were “too close to the union.”
MultiCare’s responses are due October 28. We will share the outcomes and next steps once we receive them.
In solidarity,
Crystal Anderson, Chair
Lauren Johnson, Co-Chair
Nicole Blackwell, Secretary/Treasurer
Randi Neff, Membership Officer
Questions or concerns, contact Jared at [email protected].