In our last two sessions with management, we have emphasized how critical appropriate staffing is to us, and how disastrous staffing has been in reality. We have also told management that the “systems” it has in place to assess staffing complaints (including missed meals and breaks) are intentionally designed to be too onerous for busy nurses to fill out, and ultimately dissuade nurses from filling out complaint forms. We informed management that we believe the existing Nurse Staffing Committee does not abide by Washington state law, the Committee charter, or our contract. Management’s lukewarm response tells us they’re still not taking our staffing concerns seriously.

We submitted an economic proposal with a “tiered” approach to making nurses whole for the annual leave hours that we gave up to help the hospital back in the 2011 contract negotiations. At that time, the nurses were reassured that this annual leave time would be restored – this never happened.

Especially after this last year, we are deeply disappointed that management has come to the table with a dismissive attitude. The Hospital owes us safe and appropriate staffing. We deserve more.

What’s Next?

Join us for a virtual town hall. Please come and meet WSNA attorney Pamela Chandran and bring your questions and concerns for the team. Please come and find out how you at the bedside, doing the work that generates the revenue, can help your team achieve great results at negotiations. VIRTUAL TOWN HALL will be on Wednesday, June 16 at 6 – 7 p.m.

To join: https://zoom.us/j/96417219434?from=addon . Please plan to arrive at least 5 min early. We will be checking people in one by one and admitting you to the room once we have verified your name on the roster. Please use your first and last name when joining the Zoom room.

Wear your buttons every day you are working now – attach them to your lanyard and wear them proudly. We are stronger together! Please contact your unit rep if you need another button.

Liz Rainaud – Chair
Cheryl Pedersen – Grievance officer
Jessica Googe – Secretary
Rachel Yates – Membership
Hannah Guy – Treasurer
DeeAnn Wolf – Team member
Lacey Bernick – Team member