We hear what you need, our proposals reflect those priorities, but management is dragging their feet

We met with management on April 23 for our sixth bargaining session. To address the priorities that have been articulated by you, our bargaining unit nurses, we made a comprehensive package proposal to Overlake that represents movement on our end in an attempt to reach agreement. Our proposal includes wage increases of 10% (Year 1), 5.5% (Year 2), and 5.5% (Year 3), access to EIB on day one, employer contributions to your out-of-pocket health costs, as well as seeking agreement on multiple proposals from both sides.

However, management’s merely moderate movement was concerning and honestly felt dismissive to our team. As some examples, (1) Overlake’s wage proposal on the table has not changed from what they presented at our fifth negotiation session: 5% in year one, 4.25% in year two, and 3.25% in year three, (2) Overlake continues to press for contract language that provides you with lesser leave benefits than hospitals we have identified as your peers (Seattle Children’s, Virginia Mason, and Evergreen), and (3) Overlake has proposed replacing float pool break relief nurses with a unit based break relief role and did not yet answer whether this role would be included in or in addition to nurses in the staffing matrix. (We have proposed that the eight current break relief positions in the float pool continue, while also providing for unit-based break relief roles, in addition to the matrix.)

We have been making moves to negotiate in good faith at the table, and it feels like Overlake is dragging their feet, hoping the bargaining unit will settle for the 5% Overlake continues to propose for year one of the contract.

Take Action

Please continue stickering up on negotiation days (our next one is tomorrow, April 25) and wearing your WSNA blue shirts on Fridays. For information about other actions, contact Tara (tbarnes@wsna.org),  Zach (zseikel@wsna.org), or a bargaining or CAT team member.

In unity,

In unity,

Your negotiation team 
Chris Birchem Ortho/Spine Surgery
Cassie Bundick CCU
Caine Ballew Float Pool
Michele Percosky OPS
Kristin Barnett IPS
Stacey Alvarez ED
Melissa Santos CCU
Balla Sarr Break Relief RN