Thanks to your actions, we are making progress at the bargaining table!

A huge thank you to all of you who participated in our recent actions. A particular shout-out to CAT team members and unit-based reps who worked extremely hard to let you know about these opportunities. You showed up at the Bandage Ball to voice that Overlake nurses play a critical role in Overlake’s ability to provide compassionate and life-saving care – and need a fair contract. You delivered a letter from the bargaining team on Tuesday – two days before our bargaining session – to CEO Marsh that we need a strong contract now. You are wearing stickers, you signed our petition, and are donning your blue WSNA t-shirts on Fridays. We appreciate you!

As a result of your efforts, we have made significant progress at the bargaining table. At our eighth session on May 9, the parties moved closer together, with us continuing to push for the following issues:

• A wage increase in year one for wages now that are on par with or close to the average wages the most highly-paid union nurses in the Seattle-Bellevue area will receive later this year, in August-October
• Step increases annually, rather than based on hours – this would mean those part-time nurses who currently wait more than a year for longevity step increases would get them annually
• Preservation of PTO accrual rates, with EIB essentially converting to sick leave (and available immediately) effective on June 21, 2024
• Staffing committee language preserving our voice under the new Hospital Staffing Committee law
• Elimination of the requirement for a wellness exam to earn the $0 employee-only medical benefits premium, and a voice in health benefits through a Benefits Committee
• More FTEs dedicated to break relief

Please keep stickering up on negotiation days (our next is May 24), wearing your WSNA blue T-shirts on Fridays, and completing an ADO where there is a staffing issue.

Your officers and negotiation team,
Chris Birchem OSS, Cassie Bundick CCU, Caine Ballew Float Pool, Melissa Santos CCU, Balla Sarr Break Relief, Stacey Alvarez ED, Kristin Barnett IPS, Michele Percosky OPS

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Tara Barnes at tbarnes@wsna.org.