Fall Newsletter 2026
What is in this Fall Newsletter:
- Wage Increases and Retro Pay
- Local Unit Officer Elections (Extended)
- MLK Labor Resolution PASSED
- CHSS Arbitration and Grievance Updates
- Conference Committee Resumed
- Upcoming WSNA Events and Trainings
Double check your Wage Increases and Retro Pay
Your 3.75% wage increase with full retro pay should be reflected on your pay statement. Per the compensation and retro pay agreement, this wage increase is paid back to January 1, 2026, for any nurse still employed as of September 27, 2026 (which is the effective date for the contract).
Important Links
Local Unit Officer Elections have been Extended (Your Voice/Your POWER)
It’s time to nominate your Local Unit Officers. The Local Unit’s strength and effectiveness is determined by the level of participation by the nurses. You are WSNA! If you are interested in being a leader in your Local Unit or know someone who would be a great candidate, this is your opportunity to nominate yourself or someone else for the position.
Elected volunteer WSNA Local Unit Officers work in partnership with the WSNA Nurse Representative and are the foundation of our local unit. Descriptions of each position are available in the nomination form.
If you are nominating someone as a Local Unit Officer, other than yourself, it needs to be with their agreement, so encourage them to run and ask them to complete a Consent to Serve Form. If you are nominating yourself, please complete your own Consent to Serve Form. All nominees must be members in good standing. DEADLINE for submission is November 16, 2026.
Link to Nomination/Consent to Serve Form
MLK Labor Resolution PASSED in support of Public Health Clinic funding
MLK Labor welcomed participation of WSNA delegates on October 21 and have voted to approve a resolution in support of funding the public health clinics. Specifically, MLK Labor formally called ‘on the King County Council, the King County Board of Health, and the King County Executive to adopt a sustainable funding plan for Public Health – Seattle & King County, and to use the taxing authority available to them, including the public health clinic levy authorized by HB 2442, to close the Public Health Fund’s projected operating gap…’ We look forward to the WSNA nurses’ continued participation with labor partners. Thank you MLK Labor! We ARE stronger together. 💙
CHSS Arbitration Update/Grievance Update
- CHSS Arbitration – On Monday, the County provided updates about the PHSS hiring status. Sasha DeLeon reported that two positions were to be filled as of November 2 and 9, and that they were interviewing for a third PHSS position to comply with the arbitration award.
- Schedule Changes and Shift Differential Grievance – We received the Step 2 grievance response from the County on September 25. We were not in agreement and advanced the grievance to Step 3. A meeting date is being coordinated.
Conference Committee Resumed
Now that we are finished bargaining the new WSNA contract, we have resumed Conference Committee. We met with the County on September 10 to discuss issues related to changes to posted schedules, holiday pay/travel, call and conference committee meeting cadence. If you have any issues that you would like to have discussed, please let your Nurse Rep or WSNA Officers know.
Article 5: Conference Committee The County jointly with the elected representative of the Union covered by Addendum A of this Agreement shall establish a Supervisors’ Conference Committee (“Conference Committee”) to assist with mutual problems regarding supervisory issues, and for the purpose of discussing and facilitating the resolution of all problems which may arise between the parties other than those for which another procedure is provided by law or by other provisions of this Agreement. The function of the Conference Committee shall be limited to an advisory rather than a decision-making capacity. Such Committee shall meet as mutually agreed, and shall consist of representatives of the County and up to three employee representatives (excludes the WSNA representative). The Union representatives may attend meetings upon invitation or after giving prior notification to the Committee. When an issue is presented by the employee representatives at a Conference Committee, and the issue is not resolved or has not been addressed to the satisfaction of the Union within thirty (30) calendar days, the Union may reduce the substance of the issue to writing indicating that it had been discussed in the Committee, and thereafter forward the issue to the relevant Department Director and Chief Nurse Officer. After review by the relevant Director and Chief Nurse Officer, the Nursing Office shall offer a response in writing to the issue raised by the Union within thirty (30) calendar days clarifying the position of the Department relative to the issue raised.
Not a member yet?
Become a union member : Together we are Stronger
Link to membership app: Membership application - WSNA
Contract, Updates and your WSNA Union Leadership information can be found here: https://www.wsna.org/union/seattle-king-county-health-dept-supervisors
Upcoming WSNA Events and Trainings
- Local unit officer elections extended: nominations deadline is November 16
- Join the monthly virtual Lunch & Learn (CHS) – Next meeting is on November 4 at 12:05 pm – 12:55 pm
- Quarterly Virtual Union Steward Training: December 1 at 7 pm
- Learn what it means to be a union leader. Steward training covers the basics of contract enforcement and workplace organizing. Register for the training here.
- Topics include:
- The role of a Union Steward
- Your rights at work
- Investigatory meetings
- Internal issue organizing for your workplace
- 2027 Lobby Day is on February 4, 2027: Join us at WSNA’s 44th annual WSNA member lobby day for empowerment and advocacy, and shape the future of healthcare in our state.
- We invite WSNA members to join us for WSNA’s 2027 Lobby Day in Olympia on Thursday, February 4 starting at 7:30 am with breakfast at DoubleTree by Hilton Olympia. This will be followed by an education and training session designed to prepare nurses with everything you need to speak with legislators.
- To register, follow this link. Registration closes on December 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm PT
- Questions? Reach out to [email protected]
- WSNA General Assembly is on April 13, 2027: Save the date for the 2027 WSNA General Assembly, where members come together to help shape the future of their association.
- As WSNA's highest governing body, General Assembly gives members a voice in setting the association's direction. Members debate and vote on resolutions that establish WSNA's priorities and help determine what the association will focus on over the next two years.
- Additional details, including the agenda, participation information, and proposed resolutions, will be announced as the event approaches.
Make your voice heard this November! Remember to VOTE.
Decisions made at the ballot box affect nurses, our patients, and the future of healthcare. Make sure your voice is heard by voting early!
If you have any questions or concerns, contact your Local Unit Officers or WSNA Nurse Rep Linda Burbank at [email protected].