There is a lot happening with WSNA at Mary Bridge right now, and we want to make sure you have the latest updates. From officer nominations to staffing advocacy, your union is hard at work fighting for the nurses and patients of the NICU.

Officer Nominations Open Until June 5

This is the final week to nominate leaders for local unit officer positions in the NICU.

Local unit officers are the backbone of WSNA. They help set priorities, represent nurses in meetings with management, guide local union activities, and help build the power we need to improve our workplace. Every gain we make starts with nurses who are willing to step up and lead.

Any member in good standing may nominate a colleague or self-nominate for a position.

Conference Committee Update

We met with Mary Bridge leadership at our monthly Conference Committee meeting on May 28.

The overwhelming theme of the meeting was the staffing crisis. Nurses continue to tell management how severe conditions have become, while management continues to insist they are doing everything possible despite refusing to increase incentive pay.

We shared ADOs submitted by nurses and relayed stories directly from the bedside. We spoke about burnout, unsafe staffing levels, and the toll these conditions are taking on nurses, patients, and families. Unfortunately, management's response was more of the same. We heard plenty of acknowledgments and assurances, but very few meaningful actions.

We also addressed the newly created Support Nurse One role. We asked management directly whether nurses serving in this role would receive Charge RN and DELs premium pay when relieving those positions for meal and rest breaks. Management stated they would not.

That answer is unacceptable.

Changes to working conditions, including premium pay and compensation for bargaining unit work, are mandatory subjects of bargaining. WSNA has sent a cease and desist letter and a demand to bargain. We are currently awaiting management's response.

Additionally, we discussed the upcoming NIRS training and whether it qualifies for the contractual two-hour minimum payment. Management has taken the position that it does not. This interpretation directly contradicts discussions that occurred during bargaining, where a nearly identical training scenario was specifically discussed as qualifying for the minimum payment provision.

If management maintains this position through the NIRS training rollout, WSNA will file an association grievance.

Hospital Staffing Committee

This week we will hold our monthly Hospital Staffing Committee meeting and review the ADOs nurses have submitted over the past four months.

At the last HSC meeting, management argued that many ADOs should remain marked "In Progress" because they were taking steps to improve staffing. We disagreed then, and after another month with no meaningful improvements, we disagree even more strongly now.

Remember, nurses who file ADOs have the right to present their concerns directly to the Hospital Staffing Committee on paid time. Nurses must be relieved from work and provided adequate coverage if they choose to participate.

Management should contact you if your ADO is scheduled for discussion. If you have questions, you can also reach out to Jared, Crystal, or Rosie.

Most importantly, please continue filing ADOs.

The stories, concerns, and staffing data contained in those forms are driving conversations at Conference Committee, Hospital Staffing Committee, and with senior leadership. Every ADO helps document the reality of what nurses are experiencing and strengthens our ability to hold management accountable.

Virtual Town Halls

Thank you to everyone who attended our virtual town halls last week.

We appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from you. Many of the stories shared were difficult to hear. Nurses spoke candidly about exhaustion, frustration, moral distress, and concerns for patient safety. While those conversations were heartbreaking, they also reinforced why this work matters.

Your voices are being heard.

Every story shared, every ADO filed, every meeting attended, and every conversation with a coworker helps build the collective power needed to create change.

The staffing crisis in the NICU did not happen overnight, and it will not be solved overnight. But we want you to know this: your union leadership is not backing down, we are not letting these concerns be ignored, and we will continue pushing management until they take meaningful action.

Thank you for everything you do for your patients, your coworkers, and our union. Stay engaged, stay involved, and keep speaking up. Together, we are stronger than any challenge we face.