February 2, 2023, we had our 9th session with the County.

Economics

While the County was in a hurry to get the table in the summer, after 9 sessions we still have not received an economic proposal. We did receive another presentation by the County, this time identifying the facilities it used as comps (Snohomish health department, Spokane HD, Multnomah County, OR, Children’s Hospital, and Department of Corrections); too bad it relied largely on outdated information. WSNA provided updated comps with updated wages for places that just got contracts or opened contracts on wages to keep up with the current market. The County continues to express how the cost of wages includes the benefits that are given to the employees as a whole package. The County mentioned that it will be losing federal COVID money.

WSNA did finally receive the amount spent on agency nurses that have been used to help to support JHS.

While other nurses’ employers are raising wages in the middle of their contracts to try to recruit nurses and retain them, King County, absent substantial wage increases, will find itself at the bottom of the market and continue to lose talented and committed nurses to its competitors.

Certification Premium Pay- WSNA presented a counter-proposal to the County for certification premium of $1.25/hour for hours worked, applicable to the whole bargaining unit. This shows the value of the extra education that these nurses bring to the County.

CHS Remote work- The County came back with a counter to our CHS remote work proposal. We are very close to an agreement on this language.

Tentative Agreements

11.1 Position Vacancies. Position vacancies will now be posted for 10 business days an increase from 5 days.

Section 11.4 Lateral Voluntary Transfer. Positions posted will now be 10 business days and to the whole bargaining unit. This is an increase from 5 days just to the individual division. This broadens opportunities for the whole bargaining unit.

Sick Leave - If a nurse retires from the County and comes back within 12 months they will be entitled to the remaining 65% or for VEBA participants the percentage of sick leave not transferred to the VEBA account. Will not be able to get additional sick leave cash out when they leave the county again.

Time to take Action

Stand with your negotiation team. Now is the time to stand with your negotiation team. Please take a picture of yourself and your coworkers with the attached PDF. We will be putting these pictures behind the negotiations team to remind the county leadership that they are negotiating with all nurses. We have 2 more dates scheduled with the County Feb 15 and February 22.

Send the pictures back to mmoore@wsna.org. If you have a group meeting with your nurses please email your Nurse Rep so that she can join you. You can email Michell at mmoore@wsna.org. Also, remember to take a picture with the Take Care of Nurses PDF when you have a group together.

In solidarity your bargaining team
Tyler, Tami, Carolyn, Kaila and Elena