We resumed bargaining on Wednesday, January 14, after a holiday break. We had a very productive session and came to some tentative agreements.

Promising Movement on Wages

The bargaining team has officially received management's counterproposal on wages. We are encouraged by the pace, as this counter arrived a month and a half earlier than in previous negotiations, with seven bargaining sessions remaining on the schedule.

Short Rest Grievance Settlement

We have proposed a "package" for short rest that includes both a Tentative Agreement (TA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This is designed to settle the outstanding grievance and ensure immediate back pay and application for all affected nurses.

Break Nurse Implementation

The team is currently discussing with management the best way to implement and monitor the effectiveness of break nurses to ensure the system operates as intended.

Positive Outlook

Given that management previously waited until a week before contract expiration to counter on wages, the team is optimistic about the current pace of bargaining.

We need your help

We go back to the table next Tuesday, January 20th. Join us as an observer. We have a lot of work to do, and seven sessions are left on the calendar. Help us build momentum for a fair contract:

1. Join us for our weekly virtual local unit meeting “Southwest Bargaining Beat” - Next Wednesday, January 21, at 6:30 p.m., They’re the place you’ll get updates, discuss the issues, and have bargaining team members available to answer your questions. Meeting link
   
2. Now we need your help to build momentum in signing our petition to demand a good contract. Reach out to your bargaining team members, officers, or unit reps on your floor for more information.
   
3. Join us for our sixth session, next Tuesday, January 20. We will be in HEC classroom 3,4. If you RSVP, it is very helpful so we can plan for how many observers we will have, but if you have a last-minute opportunity to join us, please do.

RSVP to join us!

If you are working and cannot join us, make sure to at least wear a WSNA sticker to support the team and, ideally, wear your WSNA blue T-shirt. We will have shirts at bargaining if you’d like to pick one up.

Follow us on Instagram at phsw_nurses

In solidarity,

WSNA PeaceHealth Southwest Bargaining Team:
Alyssa Boswell, Home Hospice 
Dawn Marick, MedSurg 
Duncan Camacho, ICU 
Dustin Weddle, ED 
Jacob Clark, CVICU 
Maria Hosseini, Cathlab 
Sam Golden, IMCU
Sarah Albright, Peri-Op 
Toutu Rekucki, MedSurg

Questions? Contact your WSNA Nurse Representative, Bret Percival, at bpercival@wsna.org.