Ballots have been counted and we are pleased to announce your
new WSNA officers! Congratulations to:

Chair – Carl Coyle (ICU/CCU)

Vice Chair – Josef Mansour (ED)

Grievance Officer – Tiffany Guyette (Float Pool)

Secretary / Treasurer –Natasha Barrow (SCU:Telemetry)

In solidarity,
Your WSNA officer team

Terri Williams, Nurse Representative twilliams@wsna.org 206.575.7979 ext 3058

Local unit officer election ballots are in the mail now. Each ballot comes with a pre-addressed postage paid envelope and a smaller white envelope marked "Ballot only". Mark your voting selections on the ballot. seal it in the "Ballot only" envelope, then put that in the pre-addressed envelope and drop it back in the mail. Returned ballots must be postmarked by Jan. 7, 2020 to be counted.

Be sure to cast your vote!

If you are a member in good standing and you do not receive your ballot by Dec. 30, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams at twilliams@wsna.org and provide your current mailing address so we can get another one out to you. Only members in good standing are allowed to vote.

So far, we have received minimal responses to the request for local unit officer nominations by email. To make sure everyone interested gets a chance to nominate themselves or others, we are sending out a hard copy version of the nomination form by mail.

The nomination deadline has also been moved back. It is now Nov. 29, 2019.

Remember, we need leaders to step forward and help improve working conditions for everyone.These elected positions will assist in making decisions for RNs working at NWH including your upcoming contracts and day to day issues that arise. (All Nominees must be WSNA members in good standing)

Questions? Contact Terri Williams, MSN, RN at 206-575-7979, ext.3058 or twilliams@wsna.org.

Its time to elect our next group of WSNA leaders! Nominate yourself or another WSNA activist for a WSNA Local Unit Officer position. These positions are vital for the continued advocacy of your nursing practice at NWH. This time we are offering the option to fill out and submit the form online. All nominations are due back to WSNA by November 22, so respond today. The form includes descriptions of the duties for each office on the second page.

These elected positions will assist in making decisions for RNs working at NWH including your upcoming contracts and day to day issues that arise. (All Nominees must be WSNA members in good standing)

We look forward to receiving your nomination today!

In Solidarity,
Terri Williams, MS, RN
206-575-7979 x3058
twilliams@wsna.org

Northwest nurses vote “YES” for the Transition Addendum

We had a great turnout of nurses on Thursday, Oct. 17 for an overwhelming “YES” vote on the Transition Addendum. The addendum covered changes in step advances, seniority/layoff, anniversary dates and vacation, plus a few other items.

A complete summary of the changes can be found at below. Congrats to all of the registered nurses at NWH!!

In Solidarity!

Your WSNA Bargaining Team:

Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Chair

John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

Anita Stull, RN, UWMC Local Unit Officer

Teresa Wren, RN, UWMC Local Unit Officer

Ed Zercher, BSN, RN; WSNA Nurse Rep (UWMC)

Terri Williams, MS, RN Nurse Rep (UW/NW)

Questions? Contact any of the nurses and/or officers listed above, or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams, MS, RN twilliams@wsna.org.

Our Joint NWH-UWMC Negotiating Team recommends adoption of a newly negotiated Addendum to the Transition Agreement which will be voted for ratification on October 17. As you will recall, both NHW and the UWMC nurses ratified a Transition Agreement April 16, 2019. Recently your Joint Team met with management several times to discuss items that the employer felt needed to be addressed as part of the UWMC/NWH transition. We were able to come to a Tentative Agreement on changes that were required by UWMC to meet their system needs. There are no takeaways for NWH nurses. In fact, most of the changes are benefits to NW RNs. The entire Agreement will be available for inspection at the ratification vote.

Highlighted Changes

1. Longevity: As of January 1, 2021, “Step” advances will be done “annually” for all RNs at NWH and no longer be based on “hours worked.” This will benefit countless NWH RNs by advancing the dates they would otherwise qualify for step increases.
2. Seniority/Layoff: At the end of 2019, NWH seniority will be calculated for all nurses and credited going forward. As of January 1, 2020, credit for additional seniority will be calculated on an “annual” basis for all nurses, rather than on hours worked. Contract language will be changed in the NWH Agreement to reflect portions of the layoff language from the UWMC. The layoff language will be nearly in sync with UWMC and allows bumping house wide without unit restrictions.
3. Anniversary Date: For NWH FTE nurse’s anniversary dates (Progression Start Dates) will be changed to the first of the month of their current date. Step increases will be awarded earlier.
4. Policies: More generous policies from UWMC will be implemented at NWH including those addressing the Federal Family & Medical Leave Act, Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave, Washington State Shared Leave, the UW Disability Leave Policy, and Bereavement Leave.
5. Union Access: Revised WSNA access language will be helpful for day to day access to our RNs at NWH.

Vacation Accrual: Newly revised and accelerated vacation accrual tables for RNs at both NWH and UWMC will start in July 2021.

*Effective January 1, 2020

*Effective June 30, 2021:

Vote Date: October 17, 2019

Please show up and bring a colleague. Only members in good standing can cast a vote.

In Solidarity!

Your WSNA Bargaining Team:

Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Chair

John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

Anita Stull, RN, UWMC Local Unit Officer

Teresa Wren, RN, UWMC Local Unit Officer

Ed Zercher, BSN, RN; WSNA Nurse Rep (UWMC)

Terri Williams, MS, RN Nurse Rep (UW/NW)

Questions? Contact any of the nurses and/or officers listed above, or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams, MS, RN twilliams@wsna.org.

WSNA, UWMC and NWH Local Unit Officers and bargaining team members have met with UWMC and NWH administration and management several times in the last month to discuss items that the employer felt needed to be addressed as part of the UWMC/NWH transition. We were able to come to a tentative agreement on the impact of changes that were required by UWMC to meet their system needs. There were no takeaways for NWH nurses. In fact, most of the changes are benefits to NW RNs! These include:

• Newly revised and accelerated vacation accrual tables for RNs at both facilities starting in July of 2021.
• Revised WSNA access language which will be helpful for day to day access to our RNs;
• Upon ratification, “Step” advances will be “annually” for all RNs at NWH and no longer be based on “hours worked.” This will benefit countless NWH RNs;
• The layoff language will be nearly in sync with UWMC and allows bumping house wide without unit restrictions.

As always, these tentative changes must be voted on and ratified by the Bargaining Unit nurses in good standing (dues paying members)

A summary of the Transition Addendum will be posted one week prior to the vote (on Thursday, Oct. 10 at wsna.org)

In Solidarity!
Your WSNA Bargaining Team:

Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Chair
John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair
Anita Stull, RN, UWMC Local Unit Officer
Teresa Wren, RN, UWMC Local Unit Officer
Ed Zercher, BSN, RN; WSNA Nurse Rep (UWMC)
Terri Williams, MS, RN Nurse Rep (UW/NW)

Questions? Contact any of the nurses and/or officers listed above, or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams, MS, RN twilliams@wsna.org.

What is the difference between a WSNA Nurse Rep and a Unit Rep? What is power and how do you get it? How do I use the new online ADO form? How will the UW/NW merger affect my working conditions?

If you have ever asked these questions or wondered how you can get more involved, we invite you to a WSNA training next week to get some answers. Please RSVP to amansfield@wsna.org if you can attend any of the following sessions. Each training will last 2 hours and will be held at the Northgate Public Library, 10548 5th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125.

Meeting times are:
Monday, Sept. 30 at 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.

Join your colleagues in acquiring skills to help advocate for better workplace conditions.

Questions? Contact WSNA Organizer Annie Mansfield at amansfield@wsna.org or 206-575-7979, ext. 3059.

We had a great turnout of nurses on Friday, Sept. 13 and ended with an overwhelming “Yes” vote for the approximately 60 clinic nurses, clinical coordinators, assistant nurse managers, nursing shift managers and others who are now members of the NWH Bargaining Unit.

Congratulations to all of the new members and to all of the RNs at NWH. Thank you for all of the hard work you do!

In solidarity!

Brenda Clawson, RN, Clinic Nurse

Janell Christianson, BSN, RN, Clinic Nurse/Lead

Sheila Martin, RN, Clinical Coordinator

Heidi Glendenning, BSN, RN, Clinical Coordinator

Penny Brooks, BSN, RN, Nursing Shift Manager

Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

Questions? Contact any of the nurses and/or officers listed above, or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams twilliams@wsna.org.

WSNA, along with your Officers and bargaining team members, met with UWMC and NWH management to discuss further changes needed to meet their current system needs. They presented several proposals to us that we will be considering.

Any changes tentatively agreed upon by your joint WSNA team of registered nurses will be voted on and ratified by all nurses in the bargaining unit.

We will keep you apprised of any updates as they occur.

In Solidarity!
Our Bargaining Team:

Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Chair
John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair
Anita Stull, RN, UWMC Local Unit Officer
Teresa Wren, RN, UWMC Local Unit Offer

Questions? Contact any of the nurses and/or officers listed above, or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams twilliams@wsna.org.

After a successful campaign and subsequent negotiations with administration, your WSNA bargaining team of registered nurses is ready to take this MOU to a vote by the membership.

The MOU will include the following 58 (+/-) nurses in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Their new position titles are included below:

Clinical Coordinator/RN3
Clinic Nurse/Staff Nurse
Assistant Nurse Manager/RN3
Nursing Shift Manager/RN3
Clinic Nurse Lead/Charge Nurse
Clinic Infusion Nurse Lead/Charge Nurse
Clinic Infusion Nurse/Staff Nurse
Surgical Srvcs Prog Manager/RN3
Clinic Surgical Nurse/Staff Nurse
Lact Prog & SCN Coordinator/RN3
Cardiac Rehab Nurse/Staff Nurse

There will be two voting sessions on this same day in an effort to ensure the most RNs possible can participate:

Date: Friday, September 13
Where: E Wing Auditorium
Voting Times: 1-3 p.m. and 4:30-8 p.m.

We are proud to have these RNs become members of WSNA and stand side by side with their RN colleagues for improved wages, hours and working conditions.

Your bargaining team recommends a “YES” vote.

Congratulations and welcome to all!
In Solidarity!
Our Bargaining Team:
Brenda Clawson, RN, Clinic Nurse
Janell Christianson, RN, Clinic Nurse/Lead
Sheila Martin, RN, Clinical Coordinator
Heidi Glendenning, RN, Clinical Coordinator
Penny Brooks, RN, Nursing Shift Manager
Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair
John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

Questions? Contact any of the nurses and/or officers listed above, or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams twilliams@wsna.org.

Welcome NW Clinic RNs, Clinical Coordinators, Charge Nurse/Leads and others who have been included in this bargaining!! The bargaining team met with management again today and came away with a TA.

Sixty RNs working in these positions will be members of our WSNA bargaining unit after the MOU is ratified. We are planning to have a ratification vote on Friday, Sept. 13! All WSNA bargaining unit RNs will receive notice of the vote date, times, and location next week.

We will also be planning a meeting with all of the RNs who will be coming into the unit per the TA. We don’t have a firm date, yet, but keep your evenings open for the September 10 or 11.

In Solidarity!
Our Bargaining Team:
Brenda Clawson, RN, Clinic Nurse
Janell Christianson, RN, Clinic Nurse/Lead
Sheila Martin, RN, Clinical Coordinator
Heidi Glendenning, RN, Clinical Coordinator
Penny Brooks, RN, Nursing Shift Manager
Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair
John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

Questions? Contact any of the nurses and/or officers listed above, or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams twilliams@wsna.org.

Our bargaining team met with management on Friday, August 23 to bargain the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will be added to our contract for 57 NW nurses.

These nurses will be designated “Staff Nurse”:

17 Clinic Nurses

2 Cardiac Rehab Nurses

7 Clinic Infusion Nurses

2 Clinic Surgical Nurse

The following group will be designated “RN3”:

20 Clinical Coordinators

5 Nursing Shift Managers

1 Lact Prog & SCN Coord

1 Surgical Srvcs Prog

These nurses will be designated “Charge Nurse/Lead”:

Clinic Infusion Nurse Lead

Clinic Nurse/Lead

Our team of 11 RNs and our attorney worked for eight hours and came away optimistic about the proposals that were exchanged and discussed. We plan to meet with management again on Thursday, Aug. 29 and are hopeful we may reach a Tentative Agreement (TA).

If we do reach a TA, we will put a notice out to all of the RNs in the WSNA bargaining unit for an upcoming Ratification Vote for the MOU. Stay tuned!

In solidarity!

Brenda Clawson (Clinic Nurse) nurbac03@gmail.com
Janell Christianson (Clinic Nurse/Lead) jchristianson23@gmail.com
Sheila Martin (Clinical Coordinator) samartin73@gmail.com
Heidi Glendenning (Clinical Coordinator) heidianneg20@gmail.com
Penny Brooks (Nursing Shift Manager) pabseattle@hotmail.com

Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

Questions? Contact any of the nurses and/or officers listed above, or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams twilliams@wsna.org.

We have formed a bargaining team to start the process of adding approximately (62) NW Clinic RNs, Clinical Coordinators and others to the existing contract.

We met with many of these nurses and look forward to having them join us.

We will be meeting with UWMC and NWH management along with (5) of the nurses coming in, plus two Local Unit Officers from NWH and two local unit officers from UWMC. The WSNA Nurse Reps from both facilities will join us as well.

The nurses joining the bargaining team are:
Brenda Clawson (Clinic Nurse) nurbac03@gmail.com
Janell Christianson (Clinic Nurse Lead) jchristianson23@gmail.com
Sheila Martin (Clinical Coordinator) samartin73@gmail.com
Heidi Glendenning (Clinical Coordinator) heidianneg20@gmail.com
Penny Brooks (Nursing Shift Manager) pabseattle@hotmail.com

Thanks to any other nurses who volunteered their time. We’re still looking for nurses to act as Unit Reps for these new areas and other units/depts at NWH.

Our first date of bargaining will be Friday, August 23. Stay tuned for updates following that session.

In solidarity!

Tiffany Guyette, BSN, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-Chair

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams at twilliams@wsna.org or 206-575-7979, ext. 3058.

Please join us for a meeting to discuss your wishes for the upcoming contract bargaining session between NW nurses and management on Wednesday, July 31, anytime between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.. Your WSNA officers and staff will be on hand to answer any questions you might have. This will also be a great chance to meet other clinic RNs in your new bargaining unit. Drop in anytime!

What: Northwest Clinic RN meeting with WSNA officers and staff
When: Wednesday, July 31, anytime between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Where: The Computer Room #120, Northwest Outpatient Medical Center
10330 Meridian Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133

We also have a survey for our new NW clinic members to help determine the direction of the upcoming negotiations. If you are a member of that group, please respond to the survey. Your voice matters now more than ever!

In solidarity,

Tiffany Guyette, RN, Local Unit Chair
John Brown, RN, Local Unit Co-chair
Terri Williams, RN, WSNA Nurse Representative
Ed Zercher, RN, WSNA Nurse Representative
Will Nesper, RN, WSNA Nurse Organizer
Annie Mansfield, WSNA Organizer
David Campbell, WSNA Attorney

Questions? Contact WSNA Organizer Annie Mansfield at amansfield@wsna.org.

An huge turnout of nurses showed up Tuesday, April 16 to overwhelmingly vote “YES” to a new 2-year contract that includes UWMC integration language and Reserve RN conditions including Just Cause. In addition, it includes guaranteed raises for the next two years, a longevity bonus, free UPASS for all Classified RNs starting January 1, 2020, modified vacation accrual schedule and more.

Our negotiations team comprised of NW Hospital and UWMC WSNA RNs worked tirelessly for nearly 25 combined sessions to get to where we are today. A complete summary of the changes can be found at WSNA.org and a final, signed, copy of the entire Collective Bargaining Agreement will be online as well in the next several weeks.

Congrats to all of the registered nurses at NWH and thank you for all of the hard work you do!

Your NW/UWMC Hospital Negotiations Team:

Anita Stull, RN -UWMC; Tiffany Guyette, RN- NW Hospital; Harry James, RN- UWMC; John Brown, RN- NW Hospital; Teresa Wren, RN- UWMC; Tom Booze, RN- NW Hospital; Miko Robertson, Per Diem RN-UWMC: Trish Nilsen, Per Diem RN-UWMC; Ed Zercher, BSN, RN; WSNA Nurse Rep for UWMC; Terri Williams, MS, RN – WSNA Nurse Rep for NW Hospital; and Dave Campbell, WSNA Special Counsel

Plan on showing up and casting your vote!

Where and when?

UWMC
April 11: 6-9 a.m. and 6- 9 p.m. Plaza Café rooms A&B (SW130)
We will also be at Roosevelt Clinic North street level lobby from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Northwest Hospital
April 16: 6-9 a.m., 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.
All voting sessions to be held in the Heart Center Conference Room

Overview: As you know, the UWMC and NWH are integrating on January 1, 2020. Both the NWH and UWMC Agreements are up for renegotiation this year. Rather than face multiple, splintered negotiations, your combined UWMC/NWH Integration Bargaining Team has negotiated hard with both UWMC and NWH Management (“Administration”) for a total of 12 sessions, and reached a Tentative Agreement which:

1. Provides Job Stability: Under the Agreement both the UWMC and NWH nurses will remain under separate collective bargaining agreements and in separate bargaining units for two years. Administration has waived the right to force a combined NWH/UWMC unit in which nurses could be forced to move job locations, float between campuses and face major changes in pay and working conditions.
2. Provides Contract Stability: Both the NWH and UWMC Agreements are due for renegotiation this summer. Because NWH employees will become public employees in just over six months, absent this Transition Agreement your WSNA Teams at NWH will be compelled to negotiate both Agreements this summer and face a second set of negotiations for each agreement or a combined agreement right after integration next January. Multiple negotiations would create enormous uncertainty, and opportunities for the Administration to try to negotiate away your unique benefits.
3. The Transition Agreement TA: The Tentative Agreement will provide for extending the existing NWH and UWMC Agreements with (1) across the board wage increases, (2) contract provisions to integrate NWH nurses into public employee status, (3) provisions to mitigate negative impacts arising from integration, (4) inclusion of most Per Diem nurses at UWMC and all Reserve nurses at NWH and (5) other improvements for both Agreements.
4. Fighting Off Takeaways: Your team fought off big takeaways including a massive loss of vacation value for NW RNs, a raise proposal of just 1% and an extended work day without additional pay for clinic RNs.

NWH/ UWMC HIGHLIGHT SUMMARY:
Changes to both agreements:

1. UPASS: Free for all NWH and UWMC nurses July 1, 2019 (ORCA Passes for NWH until January).
2. Guaranteed Wage Increases: Two Percent (2%) Year One, Two Percent (2%) Year Two. NW Hospital RNs will begin receiving these raises on May 15 and UWMC RNs will begin receiving these on July 1, 2019.
3. Longevity Bonus: Longevity bonus of $800 for FTE’d RNs working .7 and above and $400 for FTE’d RNs working a .6 and below in November of 2020. RN must be working at UWMC at time of ratification and still be employed as of date of bonus payout.
4. Job Protection for Reserve & Per Diem Nurses: “Just Cause” for Reserve & Per Diem RNs currently employed at UWMC and NW Hospitals. At the end of this year, Reserve and covered UWMC Per Diem nurses (who work over 350 hours per year) will fall under the protection of “Just Cause,” and may not be fired for performance reasons without a right to correct poor performance and arbitrate unfair terminations. This is a major change!

Additional Impacts On The UWMC Agreement

1. Preservation of UWMC Unique Life Balance Benefits: These include self-scheduling, no-low census and limited call units. All of these benefits have been under attack during the last few rounds of negotiations.
2. Accelerated Annual Leave: Nurses between Steps 4 and 13 will receive increased annual leave days.
3. Per Diem Inclusion: Per Diem nurses (who work 350 hours or more per year) shall now be under the UWMC Agreement and in addition to new just cause protection, shall enjoy other significant contract benefits including guaranteed daily overtime, shift differentials, premiums, participation on key committees and access to the grievance procedure.
4. Per Diem Pay Step Upgrades: Many UWMC Per Diem nurses are not being paid at the highest step they are entitled to. If ratified, UWMC Per Diems will have their hours audited within 90 days of ratification and receive any step increases they are entitled to. Per Diem nurses will continue to receive step increases going forward for every 1872 hours worked.

Additional Impacts on NWH Agreement (Effective January 2020):

• Imposed for NWH Nurses to Become Public Employees:

A. Retirement Plan PERS: All nurses shall participate in the State’s pension plan, known as PERS. Nurses will have a choice between PERS II and PERS III plans. Both Plans have vesting periods and different advantages. PERS II includes an increasingly rare defined benefit plan which provides guaranteed income throughout retirement. Full details can be found at www.drs.wa.gov/member/systems/... 60 and over: Your team convinced management to allow nurses age 60 or older (who may not have time to vest before retirement) with 15 years of service who have been contributing to the NWH Plan to receive a lump sum equal to two years contributions under the NWH Plan at the end of this year.

B. Medical Plan: All FTE NWH nurses will be enrolled in the State’s PEBB Medical Plan which provides high-quality medical benefits. Premiums are slightly higher for single employees but much lower for families. A premium in lieu of benefits will no longer be available.

Reserve nurses will be enrolled if their manager fills out a form attesting to an expectation that the NWH nurse will work 480 hours over the first six months of 2020 and work 8 hours a month thereafter.

C. Reserve Nurses: All Reserve nurses working at NWH are being grandfathered into the NWH bargaining unit and may be benefit eligible. However, Reserve Nurses will receive only a six percent (6%) premium due to that eligibility.

D. Sick Leave: NWH nurses' sick leave banks will be transferred to UWMC into a carryover bank and preserved for continued use.

E. Holidays & Annual Leave: NWH nurses shall be subject to UWMC annual leave and all State Holidays, plus a personal holiday. Total leave is roughly equivalent, but the terms of the UWMC Holiday provision are superior. NWH annual leave banks will be transferred to the UWMC and covered by the UWMC provisions. The UWMC existing annual leave accrual limit is set at 240 hours. NWH with balances higher than 240, shall be given the option to (1) cash out excess vacation at the end of 2019 at 75%, and/or (2) retain and use some or all excess hours before June 1, 2021.

We, your WSNA negotiation team, recommend a “YES” vote

Please be on the lookout for a complete summary of changes that will be posted on wsna.org about a week prior to the vote.

For questions, contact the following nurse representatives:
UWMC – Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org
NW Hospital – Terri Williams at twilliams@wsna.org

In Solidarity!

Your WSNA Negotiation Team:

Anita Stull, RN - UWMC; Tiffany Guyette, RN - NW Hospital; Harry James, RN - UWMC; John Brown, RN - NW Hospital; Teresa Wren, RN - UWMC; Tom Booze, RN - NW Hospital; Ed Zercher, BSN, RN - WSNA Nurse Rep; Terri Williams, MS, RN - WSNA Nurse Rep; and Dave Campbell - WSNA Special Counsel

As part of a larger integration into the UW timekeeping system, Northwest Hospital notified WSNA of their intention to modify the recognized work week.

They are moving it from the current Sunday at 0001 - Saturday at Midnight to become Monday at 0001- Sunday at Midnight work week to accommodate the UW timekeeping system. This must go into place no later than July in order to allow UW to seamlessly integrate both hospitals on Jan. 1, 2020.

This change could shift hours from one workweek into another creating overtime in one week and FTE shortages in the other. As a result, some existing schedules will be impacted.

WSNA is committed to holding the employer accountable to the process and the contract. The UW/NW Integration team has met with the employer several times in an effort to identify the extent of proposed changes. The Integration Negotiation Team includes WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams, Tiffany Guyette, RN, NWH Local Unit Chair; John Brown, RN, NWH Local Unit Co-Chair; and Tom Booze, NWH RN.

In addition to meeting with NW administration, we requested a comprehensive set of information around this proposed.

The reality is there are going to be a number of changes associated with UWMC and NWH merging into one hospital. This is just one of them. We certainly understand and made it very clear to the Employer that the schedule changes are going to be a huge dissatisfier for the nurses. We have also had meetings with the Employer outside of the Integration Negotiations. WSNA has worked with the Employer regarding the entire process of this potentially house-wide rebid and how it relates to the contract.

We have been able to push the timing of this rebid back and worked hard to extend the date that the changes will take place.

We are working to make this transparent and ensure seniority is the determining factor in all choices/decisions.

For questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams, MS, RN at twilliams@wsna.org.

Early yesterday evening, your team of registered nurses from UWMC and Northwest Hospital Medical Center reached a Tentative Agreement. Having contemplated the alternative of negotiating each contract separately, along with the potential for significant takeaways, your team elected to fight for 2 years of predictability and stability for registered nurses.

Under our agreement, your contract will remain largely unchanged at both UWMC and NW Hospital Medical Center, preserving the benefits you are accustomed to.

Your team of registered nurses fought off potential takeaways proposed by your employer and made some significant gains along the way!

Stay tuned for a detailed update that will be coming your way by the end of the week.

Also, mark your calendars for the upcoming votes:

• UWMC on April 11 (times and locations to follow)
• NW Hospital Medical Center on April 16 (times and locations to follow)

In Solidarity!

Your WSNA Negotiation Team:

Anita Stull, RN -UWMC; Tiffany Guyette, RN- NW Hospital; Harry James, RN- UWMC; John Brown, RN- NW Hospital; Teresa Wren, RN- UWMC; Tom Booze, RN- NW Hospital; Ed Zercher, BSN, RN; WSNA Nurse Rep for UWMC; Terri Williams, MS, RN – WSNA Nurse Rep for NW Hospital; and Dave Campbell, WSNA Special Counsel

Questions? Contact one of us, WSNA Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams at twilliams@wsna.org.

Your team of registered nurses from UWMC and NW Hospital met again with the UWMC administration and management for another session on Friday, March 15. Your WSNA team offered a comprehensive proposal to the UWMC administration.

Our offer on behalf of the RNs was intended to prompt the administration to move towards a tentative agreement while keeping in mind the priorities of each bargaining unit.

We have agreed to meet again on Monday, March 25 to determine whether or not we are in a place to make a tentative agreement.

Please reach out to our team in the event you have questions specific to your concerns.

We will keep you informed each step of the way.

In Unity,

Your Negotiation Team:

Anita Stull, RN - UW; Teresa Wren, RN - UW; Harry James, RN - UW; Tiffany Guyette, RN - NW; Tom Booze, RN - NW; John Brown, RN - NW

Contact Will or Annie with questions:

Will Nesper, RN, Nurse Organizer: 206-713-2443 / wnesper@wsna.org

Annie Mansfield, Organizer: 206-247-4723 / amansfield@wsna.org

How will my retirement be impacted? Will I get a respectable annual wage increase?

What will happen to my benefits and 401K? Will I lose my PTO? Will my unit rebid their schedule?

What happens to my seniority? Will I be required to float to another facility?

In solidarity,

Your Bargaining Team

Tiffany Guyette, Tom Booze, John Brown, Anita Stull, Teresa Wren, Harry James

Contact Will or Annie with questions:

Will Nesper, RN, Nurse Organizer: 206-713-2443 / wnesper@wsna.org

Annie Mansfield, Organizer: 206-247-4723 / amansfield@wsna.org

In order to bargain the impact of changes related to the upcoming integration between UWMC and NW hospitals, the UWMC and NWH team of WSNA RNs met with leadership/management yet again on Friday, Feb. 8.

WSNA offered UW leadership a comprehensive proposal at our last session with very little agreement from management on those proposals. Management offered a counter but it was not acceptable. We began this session with a counterproposal that showed movement but maintains the priorities identified by the nurses.

Due to the threat of inclement weather, the negotiations ended earlier than usual. Management was not prepared to give us a substantive response. We plan to meet again on Friday, Feb. 22.

The WSNA team is attempting to mitigate potential concessions for NW Hospital RNs. As a result of NW becoming a state institution, we anticipate RNs may potentially be negatively impacted by mandatory and hospital anticipated changes that are coming.

As stated in a previous update, those changes continue to include:

• Changes in vacation and holidays;
• Changes in medical benefits;
• Changes in retirement benefits;

WSNA is also working to include the items below into our discussions:

• Protection for Reserve and Per Diem RNs, such as union representation and basic rights
• Wage increases for both UWMC and NWH RNs;

Plan for ACTION:

We are continuing our plan for informational meetings and surveys. If you've moved recently, download and send us a change of information form to make sure we have your most up-to-date information

In Solidarity!

Your WSNA Negotiation Team:

Anita Stull, RN -UWMC; Tiffany Guyette, RN- NW Hospital; Harry James,
RN- UWMC; John Brown, RN- NW Hospital; Teresa Wren, RN- UWMC; Tom
Booze, RN- NW Hospital; Ed Zercher, BSN, RN; WSNA Nurse Rep; Terri
Williams, MS, RN – WSNA Nurse Rep; and Dave Campbell,
WSNA Special Counsel.

Questions? Contact a negotiation team member, WSNA Nurse Rep Ed Zercher at
ezercher@wsna.org or WSNA Nurse Rep Terri Williams at
twilliams@wsna.org.

Your UWMC and NW Hospital team of RNs met with UW leadership on Thursday, Jan. 24 in order to bargain the impacts of changes related to the upcoming Integration between UWMC and NW hospitals.

WSNA offered UW administration a comprehensive proposal that included an effort to mitigate potential concessions for NW Hospital RNs as part of the integration. Other content of our proposal included assistance for those negatively impacted by mandatory and hospital desired changes that are coming as a result of becoming a state institution.

Some of these proposed changes include:

• Changes in vacation and holidays;
• Varied changes in medical benefits;
• Varied retirement benefits; and,
• Protection for Reserve and Per Diem RNs, such as union representation and basic rights.

As part of a larger discussion, WSNA also proposed reasonable wage increases for all UWMC and NWH RNs. After waiting for more than five hours, our team received a very disappointing and unacceptable response from the employer. We are contemplating the choice of continuing these “integration” negotiations or pushing ahead with separate contract bargaining for each hospital in the upcoming months. Therefore, WE NEED YOU NOW!

In Solidarity!

Your WSNA Negotiation Team:

Anita Stull, RN -UWMC; Tiffany Guyette, RN- NW Hospital; Harry James, RN- UWMC; John Brown, RN- NW Hospital; Teresa Wren, RN- UWMC; Tom Booze, RN- NW Hospital; Ed Zercher, BSN, RN; WSNA Nurse Rep; Terri Williams, MS, RN – WSNA Nurse Rep; and Dave Campbell, WSNA Special Counsel.

Questions? Contact a negotiation team member, WSNA Nurse Rep Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org or WSNA Nurse Rep Terri Williams at twilliams@wsna.org.

Our team of registered nurses met again with the UWMC and NW Hospital team on Friday, Jan. 18. We’re continuing to collaborate and remain optimistic that we’ll be able to make further strides in this endeavor. The Employer has offered a new proposal and we countered, focusing on preserving benefits and having minimal impact on the NW nurses.

We are also having conversations on other topics that include our upcoming contract bargaining and how that might be impacted by these discussions. Both sides are listening and engaging. Experts were available to answer our questions.

We will meet again on Thursday, Jan. 24. We’re hoping to receive a counter and make additional inroads. We understand this is and has been a drawn-out process. We appreciate your patience while we endure this arduous process. Stay tuned for further updates.

In Solidarity,

Your WSNA Negotiation Team:

Anita Stull, RN - UWMC, Tiffany Guyette, RN - NW Hospital, Harry James, RN - UWMC, John Brown, RN - NW Hospital, Teresa Wren, RN - UWMC and Tom Booze, RN - NW Hospital

Questions? Contact one of us, WSNA Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams at twilliams@wsna.org.

Your UWMC and NW Hospital team of WSNA registered nurses last met with UW administration in early November. We have since met as a team to discuss ongoing changes and potential strategies to accomplish this with the least impact on all RNs at UWMC and NW Hospital.

Our discussions have been aimed at resolving NW Hospital transition to public employee status. Issues include retirement benefits and Per Diem changes. We are also contemplating how to maintain separate CBAs (contracts) so as to protect each group’s working conditions in light of the possibility of UW seeking to join the units in 2020.

Our preliminary challenge is a pre-emptive transition agreement that was proposed by the employer to allow them to get a jump on state-mandated changes. Unfortunately, that proposal included other concessions that your WSNA team is not in favor of.

We are working on meeting for three dates in January with UW administration to determine if we can hammer out an agreement prior to opening both contracts but we have agreed as a team, that opening both contracts in the spring may be the best way to maintain current benefits.

Stay tuned for updates here, on our local unit webpage.

In Unity,

Your WSNA Negotiation Team:

Anita Stull, RN - UWMC, Tiffany Guyette, RN - NW Hospital, Harry James, RN - UWMC, John Brown, RN - NW Hospital, Teresa Wren, RN - UWMC, Darlene Von Lehman, RN - NW Hospital and Tom Booze, RN - NW Hospital

Questions? Contact one of us, WSNA Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org or WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams at twilliams@wsna.org.

Please welcome WSNA Nurse Representative Terri Williams, MS, RN. Beginning Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, Terri will be taking over all new issues as they arise at Northwest Hospital. I will finish up most outstanding matters to their conclusion and assist Terri in the coming months as needed.

Terri can be reached at twilliams@wsna.org or at 206-575-7979, ext. 3058.

It has been a pleasure working with Northwest nurses for the past three years. I am continuing my work here at WSNA as a nurse representative with a few new assignments. I will miss Northwest nurses but know you will be in good hands with Terri.

All my best to you,

Sue O’Donnell, MSN, RN
WSNA Nurse Representative
206-575-7979, ext. 3045
sodonnell@wsna.org

Our UWMC and Northwest Hospital team of WSNA registered nurses met for the third time with UWMC Administration and Labor Relations to bargain over the Integration proposed to take place Jan. 1, 2020.

Both sides engaged in discussions around this integration and the potential impacts it may have on registered nurses working at both facilities.

Our team is committed to ensuring an open line of communication during this process and will be working closely with the WSNA nurse representatives and attorney to manage the outcomes of this merger. UWMC administration continues to take the position that they do not want any RNs harmed as a result of this integration.

Our discussions are preliminary. Additionally, we are still waiting for a large amount of information from the employer regarding proposed changes. Any items that could create changes in wages, hours and working conditions will need to be bargained with WSNA.

In Solidarity,

Your WSNA Negotiation Team:

Anita Stull, RN - UWMC, Tiffany Guyette, RN - NW Hosp, Harry James, RN - UWMC, John Brown, RN - NW Hosp, Teresa Wren, RN - UWMC, Darlene Von Lehman, RN - NW Hosp and Tom Booze, RN - NW Hosp

For any questions, contact a member of the negotiation team or WSNA Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org or at 206-575-7979, ext. 3022.

As many of you now know, UWMC has joined with Northwest Hospital Medical Center and it is estimated that as of Jan. 1, 2020, NW Hospital will become UWMC North Campus.

This has a lot of considerations for the RNs working at both facilities.

Your UWMC and Northwest WSNA local unit leadership teams met with UW administration and labor relations on Friday, Sept. 28 to begin discussions on how this would impact RNs at both facilities.

We discussed some mandated changes that will go along with Northwest Hospital becoming part of a state facility as of Jan. 2020. We also discussed some other changes that the employer would like to make – which must be bargained.

Your WSNA team of registered nurses has set forth the goal of ensuring that no RN is harmed through the course of this integration. As part of that, we are exploring all options to make sure that you get the best deal possible.

We are scheduled to meet again with UW administration and labor relations on Oct. 8. We are committed to keep you informed all along the way.

If you are a WSNA member at Northwest Hospital and want to be part of this team moving forward, please contact WSNA Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org. Your colleagues need you to represent their needs!

In Unity,

Your WSNA Transition Negotiation Team:

Tiffany Guyette RN-NW Hospital, John Brown RN-NW Hospital, Anita Stull RN-UWMC, Harry James RN-UWMC, Teresa Wren RN-UWMC, David Campbell - Attorney and Ed Zercher - WSNA Nurse Representative

As most of you know, the University of Washington has announced a plan to integrate the UWMC and NWH campuses effective Jan. 1, 2020. The big news is that the University has now told us that its intention is that all NWH nurses will become state employees. WSNA is assembling a team of officers and representatives from both facilities to meet with the UW management as soon as possible. We need to find out details so we can inform all members and prepare to negotiate on the myriad of issues that may be presented. The NWH/UWMC Team will keep you informed, involved and most importantly, hear the voices of WSNA members about this significant transition.

For questions or concerns about how you might be impacted, contact your WSNA nurse representative, Susan O’Donnell, at 206-575-7979, ext. 3045 or sodonnell@wsna.org.

Stay tuned for updates on this integration!