Yesterday, we met with hospital leadership for bargaining session 19, and we encountered both challenges and opportunities in our ongoing negotiations.

• Leadership presented us with several package proposals and called out articles that are open for us to address.
• A key point of contention arose when they tied the reinstatement of our insurance benefits to acceptance of restrictive conditions, including a clause that would prevent us from picketing or striking in the future, along with takeaways on management responsibilities, general provisions, and contract duration.
• Notably, our requests for updated language regarding Bereavement Leave were omitted, as was our appeal for relief from shift assignments in the unfortunate event of a patient dying under a nurse's direct care. During this conversation, our nurses passionately advocated for consideration of the emotional toll such experiences entail, but regrettably, they were met with rhetorical manipulation and beratement from the hospital's legal representative. This prompted both sides to call for a caucus to regroup.

Status of Federal Mediator

As we move forward, we are prepared to engage a federal mediator; however, the ongoing government shutdown has left us without that vital support at this time. Despite these challenges, our bargaining team has come together to strengthen our resolve and push these negotiations forward.

Movement toward TAs

• We successfully passed back Article 6, which is close enough to achieve a tentative agreement.
• Additionally, we presented a package proposal that includes Article 4 (Definitions) and a new floating article that we believe will be agreeable to both parties.
• We have also reached an agreement regarding the removal of proposed language pertaining to the ICU nurses floating to the ED, which aligns with our concerns.
• While we did not address adjustments to our pay scale in this round, we did make changes to three premiums and differentials, including on-call pay to $8, multi-campus floating compensation to $4.50, and the removal of the proposal for floating outside of your clinical grouping.

A Fight for Dignity and Respect 

Today’s experience, along with using our nurses as props in our CNO's one and only inpatient appearance at a celebration, when we have been begging her to join us at the bargaining table, is just too much. This team's advocacy for humanity keeps being dismissed as too costly. It's infuriating and disheartening, but we will keep fighting for our bargaining unit.

The fight across the table in session 19 was specifically over our co-chair using the word ‘inhumane’ in reference to the hospital’s refusal to accept our proposal to allow for a nurse to take the rest of the day off if their patient dies. The hospital’s attorney jumped on the chance to flip her words, accusing her of name calling. She was not attacking anyone personally, she was calling out a longtime injustice that has been perpetuated for far too long.

We stand by what was said.

The refusal to acknowledge the risk and reverence to the humanity of our work - be it physically, mentally or emotionally - is dehumanizing and inhumane at the very definition of the word.

We appreciate your ongoing support and solidarity as we continue to work towards securing a fair contract. Together, we stand firm in advocating not only for our benefits but also for the dignity and respect every nurse deserves.

Come Observe Bargaining:

Those misleading communications that management put out are not going to work if nurses come to witness the truth of what is happening at bargaining with their own eyes. We saw them flinch when we packed the room with observers before, and we can’t let up now.

Bring lunch, bring your badge, wear your WSNA blue, and come stand with us as we fight for a better future for ourselves and our patients.

Upcoming Bargaining Dates: 

10/16, 10/17, 10/29, 10/30 and 11/3
1916 Boren, 11^th floor

We start at 9 am but you can come when you are able. Here are some guidelines:

If you have further questions about observing after reading the guidelines, please reach out to our organizer Crystal Doll at cdoll@wsna.org.

Stay tuned for more opportunities to take action as a collective of powerful professionals.

Take a look at yesterday’s update to see picket photos and the Financial Report.

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