Co-Chair
Chris Birchem
East 5
Social media
Contract
Latest update
One round of local unit meetings is never enough
Posted Nov 3, 2025
As a follow up to the in-person union meeting series we held in PACCAR last week, please join us during virtual options this week:
Thursday Nov 6 at 4 pm
Friday Nov 7 at noon
Microsoft Teams
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 260 019 490 511 5
Passcode: oP7GM9Av
Dial in by phone
+1 206-485-2614,,382282842# United States, Seattle
(888) 313-0615,,382282842# United States (Toll-free)
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 382 282 842#
Join with the option that works with your schedule to review:
- FAQs about what we know so far about open enrollment
- Active contract grievances
- Assignment despite objection (ADO) forms various applications
- Break relief role
- Representational rights for investigatory meetings
- Membership strength
- 2026 union steward trainings
In the interim, please sign the petition in solidarity for your approved staffing plans and complete the brief mid-contract survey. Preservation of your department staffing plans ALWAYS requires vigilance! There is plenty of local unit work going on… even when bargaining is not. Your current contract expires in May of 2027. In this period between bargaining cycles, the focus is upon contract enforcement, upholding your union rights and unifying around issues that are deeply and broadly experienced within and across all departments. There are also QR codes on most all break room boards. Sign the petition and take the survey now:
Questions? Contact your WSNA local unit officers or Nurse Representative with questions. You can find contact info, your 2024-2027 union contract, and all communications to Overlake RNs on your WSNA webpage:
https://www.wsna.org/union/overlake-hospital-medical-center
In unity,
Chris Birchem, Chair, OSS
Heidi Scharnitzke, Secretary, Labor and Delivery
Crissy Sekine, Treasurer, IMI
Stacey Alvarez, Grievance officer, ED
Katie Gugliotta, Grievance officer, ED
Brandon Yokoyama, Membership co-officer, ED
Michael Golembo, Membership co-officer, IMI
Tara Barnes, Nurse Representative, tbarnes@wsna.org
If you use social media, please join the private WSNA FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/OverlakeRNs
And follow us on Instagram https://www.facebook.com/groups/OverlakeRNs
Previous updates
Local Unit Meeting
Oct 27, 2025
August Newsletter
Aug 11, 2025
June Newsletter
Jun 13, 2025
WSNA Overlake RNs Spring Newsletter
Apr 23, 2025
Overlake WSNA members vote "YES" to ratify the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between WSNA and Overlake regarding Body Worn Cameras (BWC’s)/CCTV
Apr 10, 2025
Get ready! Information sessions and electronic voting begin April 7
Apr 02, 2025
Upcoming event
2026 WSNA Union Leadership Conference
April 26-28, 2026
Save the date for the 2026 WSNA Union Leadership Conference.
WSNA union news
Resources and tools
Document unsafe conditions
If you find yourself in a situation that you believe creates unsafe conditions for patients or for you, you should complete a Staffing Complaint / ADO Form as soon as possible.
By completing the form, you will help make the problem known to management, creating an opportunity for the problem to be addressed. Additionally, you will be documenting the facts, which may be helpful to you later if there is a negative outcome.
WSNA also uses your ADO forms to track the problems occurring in your facility. When you and your coworkers take the important step of filling out an ADO form, you are helping to identify whether there is a pattern of unsafe conditions for you or your patients at your facilities. This information is used by your conference committee, staffing committee, and WSNA labor staff to improve your working conditions.
Representation rights
As a union member, you have the right to have a representative present in any meetings with management that could potentially lead to disciplinary action against you.
If called into a meeting with management, read the following to management when the meeting begins:
If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, I respectfully request that my union representative be present at this meeting. Without representation present, I choose not to participate in this discussion.
Find out more about this crucial right and how to exercise it to ensure your fair treatment and protection.
Continuing education offerings
Enhance your professional competency with WSNA's free online courses.
Earn CNE contact hours through topics like Cultural Humility, Telehealth Assessment, Workplace Violence Prevention, and more. Convenient and self-paced, our courses provide practical knowledge for your daily work. Expand your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest nursing practices.