The strike assessment is forcing movement

Our collective power is working. The hospital is responding to our strike assessment strength with concrete proposals that address critical workplace issues. Keep collecting signatures. Every signature increases our leverage.

Major wins we advocated for have finally been proposed by SCH

We are still working to reach TAs on articles relating to schedules, overtime, sick leave, other leaves, and maintenance of benefits. Here are some highlights of the Employer’s proposals in these articles that we have been fighting for from the start:

1. Post-Shift Fatigue Leave (NEW) When you're exhausted from working over 16 hours or have less than 8 hours rest between shifts due to working call, you would now be able to request leave without penalty. No attendance occurrence. Period. The hospital must make all reasonable efforts to approve. Use sick leave, annual leave, or unpaid time—your choice.
2. Death of Assigned Patient Leave (NEW) When your patient dies and you need relief, the hospital would have to make all reasonable efforts to release you for the remainder of your shift. Similar to post-shift fatigue, you would have the option to use sick leave, annual leave, or unpaid time with no attendance occurrence. This recognizes the emotional toll of a patient’s death and your right to process grief.
3. No Forced Floating on Overtime Overtime would stay on your assigned unit unless you agree otherwise. This would prevent the employer from calling you in and immediately floating you elsewhere.
4. 8% Sick Leave Increase SCH proposed that the accrual rate would jump from 0.046163 to 0.05 hours per hour paid. That's an additional 8 hours annually (104 hours total) for 1.0 FTE. This directly addresses the staffing crisis caused when nurses must work while sick or stay home and be subject to discipline. (Contingent on agreement by 11/22 and ratification by 12/10 without strike notice and agreement to other proposals.)
5. $1,000 Ratification Bonus—Applied to Sick Leave Bank Here's what matters: You could deposit this entire amount as sick leave hours instead of taking taxable cash. This could add substantial hours to your sick bank immediately. Smart benefit for those building your safety net. (Contingent on agreement by 11/22 and ratification by 12/10 without strike notice and agreement to other proposals.)

The hospital's movement on sick time accrual is also helpful as we continue pushing for the ability of nurses to have paid time off if they are victims of workplace violence. These proposals are part of articles that are works in progress, but we are encouraged by the Hospital’s recognition of our need for more time off to rest and heal.

We Won't Back Down on Anti-Racism

On Friday, 11/14, we ended the day by passing a proposal on the preamble that is identical to the Hospital’s in every way but one:  we refused to delete a commitment we believe MUST remain in our CBA, the important recognition that "racism has no place at Seattle Children's Hospital."

We're not playing games with our dedication to anti-racism, especially given this hospital's history. If the hospital truly believes racism has no place here, they can prove it through their actions and policies. Words have power, and leaving this line in the preamble is a must have.

What We're Still Fighting For

The progress at the table proves your organizing works. But we're not done. Critical issues remain unresolved:

1. MARKET WAGES - The hospital claims they want you to be the highest paid nurses in Washington.  To achieve that means they would need to put a much higher wage proposal on the table than we’ve seen. 
   
   It’s time for them to respond.  (We last submitted a proposal on October 17—that's four weeks ago). 
   
2. DIFFERENTIALS FOR HARD TO FILL SHIFTS/AREAS - The hospital has had our wage proposal for a month. They know what competitive compensation looks like. We've given them the data. Time to deliver.  That includes premiums and differentials for shifts and positions that are hard to fill. Our goal is to retain experienced nurses in the shifts and positions that are hardest to fill like night and weekend shift and positions that require safety cares training.
   
3. BREAK NURSES - We need the hospital's commitment to dedicated break nurses to ensure every nurse gets their lawful meal and rest breaks. They should stop asking the Union to waive your rights to breaks and instead make common-sense investments in resources proven to work.
   
4. DROP MANDATORY ARBITRATION- The hospital should withdraw their proposal forcing nurses into arbitration and waiving class actions when the hospital violates the law. Again, instead of looking for legal loopholes and asking the Union to give up nurses’ right to go to court if they are discriminated against, wrongfully fired, or denied wages and breaks, the hospital should redouble its commitments to anti-racism, follow the law, and invest in the health and safety of its nurses.
   
5. DROP ANTI-UNION PROPOSALS - The hospital must withdraw their attacks on union protections. Seattle Children’s continues to propose language that would weaken our ability to represent you effectively.  We will continue to fight against proposals that would undermine union power.

Now we need your continued strength to force their hand

Keep collecting strike assessment signatures. Every conversation with a colleague, every signature gathered, every show of solidarity increases our power at the bargaining table. They're moving because of you.

The hospital will meet our demands when they understand we're unified and ready to act

Next steps: Continue signature gathering. Stay connected with your unit reps and strike captains. Be ready.

Upcoming Strike Captain Training Opportunities and Sign-up Link:

We will be updating this link as new training dates and times are available

Organizers on Main Campus Tuesday!

Come take the Strike Captain training in person, pick up materials for assessments, and go over any challenges with our WSNA Organizers.

Tuesday, November 18

Room: OA.9.340

6-7 pm Strike Captain Training

7-8 pm Grab & Go Materials for Strike Captains

Looking for more info?

Strike FAQ and Strike FAQ2

Strike Captain or strike assessment specific questions? Reach out to our strike inbox at SCHstrike@wsna.org.

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 and Strength,

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