UWNW Bargaining Update
Posted Aug 21, 2025
We Have a Tentative Agreement! Your bargaining team recommends a YES vote!
Tentative Agreement Highlights (as of August 20)
After 16 bargaining sessions, we reached a tentative agreement (TA) on Wednesday, August 20. A TA Summary and Redline (showing all changes from the current contract) will be sent out later this week. We’ll also host in-person and virtual meetings where you can ask questions and hear directly from your bargaining team.
We fought off every takeaway and secured several important wins, including:
- Protected FTE nurses – stopped management from low-censusing staff nurses before travelers.
- Kept double-shift rest protections – management tried to eliminate this, but we held the line.
- Stronger protections – new language on Workplace Violence (WPV) and Low Census.
- New gains for Per Diems – Call pay in procedural areas, pre-scheduled overtime, comp time, preceptor and charge premiums for intermittent nurses.
- Better scheduling – more protections/limits on shift rotation and added days off in between.
- Expanded leave benefits – additional bereavement days, leave for pregnancy loss, and stronger professional leave language.
Economics Summary:
| Item | UWMC-NW |
| General Wage Increase (aka across the board) | 3% + 1% Year One 2% + 1% Year Two = 7% over life of contract |
| On Call Premium | No Change |
| Eliminate Ghost Steps | Eliminate all Ghost Steps |
| Add additional top step | RN 3 – additional top step |
| Standby Premium (low census) | $7 (9.2) |
| Night Shift Premium | $5 |
| Evening Shift Premium | $3 |
| Weekend Premium | No Change |
| Sunday Premium | $3 |
| STAT RN Premium | $7 |
| Float Pool Premium | No Change |
| Charge Nurse Premium | $3 |
| Preceptor Premium | $2 |
| RVAT Premium | No |
Thank You from your Bargaining Team
We could not have reached this Tentative Agreement without your actions, your solidarity, and your strength. Together, we fought off takeaways, won key gains, and positioned ourselves to keep building power for staffing and safety.
Now it’s time to vote YES and lock in these wins.
Voting on the Tentative Agreement
- Electronic voting opens: Thursday, August 28 at 8 a.m.
- Closes: Friday, August 29 at 8 p.m.
- Results: Released shortly after voting closes.
Ballots will be emailed to your personal email on file with WSNA. Only members in good standing can vote.
Hold management accountable – become a member!
We’ve raised the bar through the TA, but important work remains to secure stronger gains on workplace violence prevention and safe staffing.
We are strongest when we stand together as WSNA members. Greater membership means greater power to:
- Enforce our contract effectively
- Hold management accountable
- Build momentum for future improvements
It’s not too late to make your voice count. Join WSNA today and participate in this critical vote. [Join here]
Not sure if you are a member? Confirm your membership status, text your Organizer Zach at 206-406-7203.
In Solidarity,
Your WSNA Negotiation Team:
Elizabeth Gebretsadik – Float
Kaitlyn Fochs – CBC
Mary Stupek – Float
Alec Willis – Float
Trish Bouzek – SCU
Anthony Snyder – Cath Lab