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.