Here is the bargaining update from the remainder of the day, as promised.

The employer finally made us a pass at 7:30 pm.

We came into the day with every intention of reaching agreements to move closer to a final contract, and guess what? It did NOT happen. We informed you all on Instagram that there are 10 significant takeaways that SCH is demanding we concede to move forward, and it's time for some BIG action to push back against their assertion. The small amounts that they did move were tied to proposals that are borderline regressive.

The time has come to take our fight out into the community, so we can prove we are a credible threat. We are up against a wall, and if you don't show up today, you should be prepared to accept their proposals as they are. Below is a summary of the biggest takeaways and their current wage proposal.

• Refusal to include the words anti-racism and equity in the preamble or to acknowledge that racism affects the health of employees, patients, and patients' families and has no place at Seattle Children's

• Acknowledgment that you can sue them in court and have a jury trial if they are discriminating against or harassing you based on your status in a protected class (finally), but not for claims of wrongful termination, wage and hour claims (hello minimum wage, overtime, and rest/meal break violations), paid sick leave violations, domestic violence leave violations, and more. They also insist that the Union give up the right to file or participate in a class action, except in the most narrow of circumstances
• They want to be able to use verbal warnings/coaching/counseling to determine "appropriate levels" of future discipline, and have disciplinary action remain on nurse’s record forever, where it can be used to affect future discipline
• A continued attack on our union power and dues collection, which is what pays for the lawyer helping us to get a fair contract
• Easier access to lay off nurses in small areas of the hospital, unless we agree to hold off on our proposed changes to floating language
• No response to the movement we made on Workplace Violence. Specifically, they gave us NO agreement on dedicated security for PBMU, time off for WPV injuries, or commitment to maintain the WPV committee in its current form
• And no new proposals on employer-paid medical premiums, contract expiration (i.e., no ability to informational picket or strike, ever), leaves of absence, retirement, night shift differential, ECMO premium or critical care transport premium

In the meantime, here's their current wage scale proposal and ours so that you can do a side-by-side comparison. We passed the wage scale and premiums/diffs and maintained the seniority bonus in year 1 of our wage proposal.

The first set of images is the WSNA Wage table

This below image is the Employer's last wage table.

But hey, we have parking available until 2028 for nurses with more than 25 years of service, so there's that..

We did not reach any TAs in the last 3 sessions because they insist that the Union give up nurses’ rights, rather than protect or enhance them.  Because they have turned their back on their values. Because they have failed to meaningfully engage on investments in resources so nurses can get their breaks and much needed time off to care for themselves when they are sick or injured.

See you this afternoon!

WSNA and SCH agreed to extend the CBA again to November 7 (this time without a carve-out to allow us to picket – so all the more important you show up today!).  If we get a full TA by November 7 that gets ratified, all Seattle Children’s nurses will receive the new wage rates back to September 1 for all straight time, overtime, and double time hours worked, and your hard-working bargaining team will get their choice of pay or reimbursement to their PTO banks that they’ve used to be at the table fighting for a strong contract. We have agreed to meet at least 6 more times between now and November 7 and to invite the federal mediator to all remaining sessions.

Do not hesitate to contact any of the officers if you have questions. All of our contacts are on our WSNA website. https://www.wsna.org/union/seattle-childrens-hospital. Also, utilizing our Instagram @sch_wsna offers quick updates and opportunities for DMs.

In solidarity,

Your Bargaining Team
Annika Hoogestraat, Kara Yates, Lindsey Kirsch, Sam Forte, Katie Podobnik, Therese Hill, Kelsey Gellner, AJ Nagal, Emma Gordon, Sarah Munro, Cody Ian, Lauren Lustyk, Regan Halom, Jon McAferty and Anne Marie Fountain

WSNA Nurse Rep Linda Burbank at lburbank@wsna.org