Bargaining is currently stalled because the County has not provided a wage scale response … surprise, surprise 🙄😒. We had received their February 24 proposal; analyzed, prepared and presented it to the County on March 5 for a new 21-step wage scale. The county then had nearly 2 weeks to provide a response to our proposal, with daily reminders and encouragement from our mediator, just to share ONE DAY before they aren’t ready and need more time 👀. . . so, the ball is still in their court and we’re waiting for a return. Stay tuned to see if they double fault again (the tennis players get it 🎾).

Here are some things your team has been working on to engage with you:

• Real Talk: You’ll notice at the bottom of our WSNA emails, starting with this one, a link that says, “Real Talk”. This will lead to an anonymous form where you can share a question, concern, suggestion, or just whatever is on your mind that you want to share with your officer team.
• Nurses Week: We want to hear your ideas for celebrating nurse’s week! See the button at the bottom of this email to submit your ideas.
• Raffles: We are going to be raffling off gift cards monthly to members who have joined a sip and chat for that month. For example, if you joined any sip and chat in the month of March, you will be entered into a raffle for a gift card that will be announced in April!

What are we doing to move the County?

• Your team is scheduled to meet with Megan Pedersen, Chief People Officer, with the office of the County Executive on Friday March 20th. It is essential to bring the current state of these negotiations to the Executive, the collective bargaining agent for the County to gain a strong, fair contract!
• Join us on Monday March 23 and 30 at 6 pm for virtual Sip n’ Chats with your team.

How to support your bargaining team:

• Wear your WSNA T-shirt or any WSNA swag on March 23 and 30 in support of your team while they continue to work with the public employee relations commission (PERC) mediator.
• Follow the team on Instagram, like and share posts and videos to inform the public https://www.instagram.com/phskc_staffnurses/
• It is more important than ever to read all WSNA communications to stay current with contract negotiations and workplace issues.

Contact a team member or Nurse Representative Tara Barnes, tbarnes@wsna.org, with questions. Link to our WSNA webpage with contact information https://www.wsna.org/union/seattle-king-county-health-dept-staff

In solidarity, your WSNA bargaining team,
Elena Schensted, Columbia City Clinic
Stephen Lee, Jail Health MRJC
Evie Devera, Downtown Clinic
Kiesha Garcia-Stubbs, Downtown Clinic
Carolyn Clark, Jail Health KCCF
Tami Nesler, Jail Health MRJC

Link to join Sip n’ Chat on Mondays at 6 pm

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join:https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/27366885341826?p=1GiBVD4ZiQABhdVmUK
Meeting ID: 273 668 853 418 26
Passcode: ti7pf9du
Dial in by phone
+1 206-485-2614,,708549598# United States, Seattle
(888) 313-0615,,708549598# United States (Toll-free)
Phone conference ID: 708 549 598#