What you need to know about bargaining

• Contract: The WSNA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) aka your ‘Contract’ expires on August 31, 2025
• Article 20 Duration. This Agreement shall become effective September 5, 2022, and shall remain in full force and effect to and including August 31, 2025, unless changed by mutual consent. Should the Association desire to change, modify or renew the Agreement upon the expiration date, written notice must be given to the Employer at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration date. Upon receipt of such notice, negotiations shall commence. In the event negotiations do not result in a new Agreement on or before the expiration date, this Agreement shall terminate unless both parties mutually agree to extend the Contract.
• Survey: The 2025 Negotiation Survey is out, and your participation is critical. If you haven’t completed the survey, please take a moment to do so.
• Bargaining Team: Your Local Unit Officers are reaching out to those of you who expressed interest in being on the Bargaining Team. This is one of the many steps that are being taken to form the Bargaining Team that will ultimately represent the Children’s Nurses at the table. Your survey has a box you can check if you are interested in joining. You can also contact Co-Chairs Kara Yates and Annika Hoogestraat.
• Engagement: Thank you to everyone who helped make the Negotiations Kickoff a success. Event highlights (https://www.wsna.org/news/2025/nurses-at-3-seattle-hospitals-team-up-for-negotiations) A special thanks to those of you who came out to support Lobby Day. Event highlights (https://www.wsna.org/news/2025/2025-wsna-nurse-lobby-day-why-is-advocacy-so-important) We are looking forward to seeing you at upcoming sip n’ chats, local unit events and more. UNION POWER starts with ‘U’ (YOU)!

Introducing RN Emma Gordon (Membership Officer) and RN AJ Nagal (Grievance Officer)

A note from RN Emma Gordon (Membership Officer)

I have worked at Children’s for 8 years. I spent most of this time in the PICU and am now working in the Orthopedics Clinic. We have two kids, one is 5 and the other is almost 3, and a 10-year-old yellow lab named Griffey. When I am not at work, I love adventuring with my kids, paddle boarding, biking, and being outside. Prior to being a nurse, I was a union organizer and am proud to be a member and officer of WSNA.

A note from RN AJ Nagal (Grievance Officer)

Hello, I’m AJ! I’m a Pediatric ICU Nurse that joined as a WSNA Grievance Officer because I wanted to empower and support my peers. When I’m not at work I volunteer at local food banks and explore the outdoors whenever possible!

Filing a Complaint

It is no secret that working in the nursing profession can be challenging. However, you do NOT have to tolerate workplace violence, unsafe working conditions, retaliation, bullying, harassment, discrimination, etc. The Union is just one tool that you have in your toolbox. Fortunately, you have a variety of options to escalate your concerns and hold the Employer accountable. Below you will find some useful links. The more you know…

• Department of Health: https://doh.wa.gov/about-us/file-complaint, For more information see the document - Complaint Process: Hospitals and Hospital Staffing
• Washington State Board of Nursing: https://nursing.wa.gov/discipline-and-complaints/file-complaint
• Department of Labor & Industries (LNI): https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/workplace-complaints/worker-rights-complaints
• PFML (Unlawful Acts Complaint Form) https://paidleave.wa.gov/app/uploads/2020/11/Unlawful-acts-complaint-form-04132020.pdf
• EEOC: https://www.eeoc.gov/filing-charge-discrimination
• ADOs: https://www.wsna.org/union/ado

What is your Nurse Conference Committee? 

According to your WSNA contract, your Employer must maintain a Nurse Conference Committee (NCC). Your Local Unit Officers and Nurse Rep take many of the concerns/issues that you bring forward to the NCC in an effort to resolve them. You can find NCC meeting minutes for each NCC in the local unit web page document library.

Article 14.1 Conference Committee. The Employer, jointly with the elected representatives of the nurses, shall establish a Conference Committee to assist with personnel and other mutual problems. The purpose of the Conference Committee shall be to foster improved communications between the Employer and the nursing staff, and to address collaboratively issues affecting the nursing staff. The function of the committee shall be limited to an advisory rather than a decision-making capacity. The committee shall be established on a permanent basis and shall consist of not more than seven (7) representatives of the Employer and not more than seven (7) representatives of the nurses. One of the Employer representatives shall be the Chief Nursing Officer. All members of the committee shall be employees of the Employer. Representatives on the Conference Committee may request meetings of the Committee to discuss nurse staffing issues and suggestions for constructive improvement relating to utilization of nursing personnel. At least one week prior to scheduled Committee meetings, the nurse representatives of the Conference Committee may add to the agenda completed Assignment Despite Objection forms ("ADOs"), provided that the particular staffing issue has been raised and escalated to nursing management properly at the time of the incident…

Know your Contract – Know your Rights (Resources)

1. Discipline and Discharge: https://cdn.wsna.org/assets/local-unit-assets/seattle-childrens-hospital/Seattle-Childrens-Contract-2022-2025.pdf (Contract Article 5.3)
2. Notice of Resignation: https://cdn.wsna.org/assets/local-unit-assets/seattle-childrens-hospital/Seattle-Childrens-Contract-2022-2025.pdf (Contract Article 5.2)
3. Staffing Concerns: https://cdn.wsna.org/assets/local-unit-assets/seattle-childrens-hospital/Seattle-Childrens-Contract-2022-2025.pdf (Contract Article 14.5)
4. Staffing and Unit Based Staffing Committee (UBSC): https://cdn.wsna.org/assets/local-unit-assets/seattle-childrens-hospital/Seattle-Childrens-Contract-2022-2025.pdf (Contract Article 14.4)

Workplace Violence and Workplace Safety

WSNA and your Local Unit Officers continue to be committed to making Seattle Children’s Hospital a safe place to work and receive care. Here are some steps you can take to help achieve that goal.

1. Check out the NCC Meeting Minutes for important updates
2. Learn about strengthening the law https://www.wsna.org/government-affairs/legislative-session
3. Complete ADOs
4. Join the SCH Safe Work Environment Committee (see below)
5. Watch your email and social media platforms (see below) for important updates

Upcoming Events & Educational Offerings 

• March 19 - Free Webinar Health for Health Care Professionals: Taking Care of Yourself as You Care for Others (noon – 1 pm)
• March 21 - Letter Writing to Transgender Youth (Burke Gilman Brewing 5 – 7 pm) Supplies will be provided. All are welcome to join.
• April 30 – May 2 - 2025 Washington State Nurses Convention (Greater Tacoma Convention Center)
• Open – WSNA offers professional development to help you stay current and enhance your professional competency. Our diverse education opportunities include online classes, in-person workshops and conferences.
   https://www.wsna.org/education
• Check out the March issue of the Washington Nurse
   https://www.wsna.org/washington-nurse/2025/march

Opportunities - Get involved and make a difference

Interested in becoming a Local Unit Rep?

• Reach out to your Local Unit Officers or your WSNA Organizer Crystal Doll at cdoll@wsna.org

Join your Unit Based Staffing Committee (UBSC)

• Reach out to your Hospital Staffing Committee Co-Chair Kara Yates at kara.e.yates@gmail.com

Join the SCH Safe Work Environment

• Reach out to Local Unit Officers Samantha Forte at samantha.r.lake@gmail.com or Lindsey Kirsch at lindseykirsch@earthlink.net

Don’t miss out on upcoming activities and events for the SCH Nurses

• @sch_wsna on Instagram
• @mywsna on Instagram
• https://www.facebook.com/WSNASeattleChildrens

WSNA office elections for the 2025-2027 term

Opportunities remain for members to run; self-nominations accepted until May 1 and at General Assembly. If you haven’t already, go check out the candidates running for WSNA elected offices so far. It is not too late to add your name to the list.

https://www.wsna.org/news/2025/wsna-election-season-underway-as-candidates-step-forward-for-2025-2027-term

Contact your WSNA Local Unit Officers 

https://www.wsna.org/union/seattle-childrens-hospital

Got questions? Contact your Local Unit Officers or WSNA Nurse Representative, Linda Burbank, at lburbank@wsna.org or via telephone at (206) 575-7979 ext. 3131.