We met again with management yesterday for another bargaining session as we get closer to the expiration of our current contract. The good news: We still think there’s a realistic chance we will reach a deal that works for all nurse nurses before our contract term ends on February 28. The bad news: there are still several sections where we are not seeing eye to eye with management.  That means we need every nurse in our bargaining unit to help us reach the finish line by showing management that we’re in this together. Tune in tonight for Southwest Bargaining Beat to discuss where we stand and how you can pitch in, including how to attend our final three sessions.

In the meantime, here’s what we discussed at the table Tuesday, including the areas where we found common ground with management and the spots where we still aren’t on the same page:

Areas of progress: Low Census and RIF articles, improved wages that make up for losing the student loan assistance program, and across-the-board wage increases that will help us keep up with area facilities in years two and three.

Areas we are not seeing eye-to-eye: Reincorporating Home and Community RNs into the Acute Care Wage Scales; Shift differential eligibility, and backpay; Fair rates for scheduled standby shifts; Mandatory low census cap; More equitable low census rotation rules.

Home and Community Nurses: We were very disappointed that the employer was not interested in returning the Home and Community Nurses to the Acute Care Wage Scale. Home and Community nurses, we hear you, and we see you coming forward to be part of this. We will continue to work to ensure nurses are paid fairly and that our WSNA nurses support this important priority. We need all WSNA nurses to remind the employer: we're in contract for EVERYONE, and EVERYONE needs to win!

Management’s Proposal on EIB and Short-Term Disability: We know this is a very important topic for all nurses. The bargaining team is committed to rejecting any EIB replacement proposal that we don’t think is a good deal for nurses. Join us tonight for Southwest Bargaining Beat, or an upcoming event to learn more. Tonight, we will focus on what we know so far, issues with past employer proposals, and the improvements we see in this proposal. We look forward to questions and a robust discussion.

The Final Countdown

We only have three scheduled sessions left!

• Session 10: Tuesday 2/17
• Session 11: Wednesday 2/18
• Session 12: Tuesday 2/24

RSVP link

We need EVERYONE to sign the petition ASAP

We have an overwhelming majority of nurses who have already signed the petition, but WE NEED ALL OF YOU!

The bargaining team needs our employer to know that we will all stand together to demand a fair contract. This starts with our petition. Find a local unit officer, bargaining team member, or action team member today to sign a petition and find out how you can help track down coworkers who haven't signed yet.

Upcoming Events

• Southwest Bargaining Beat
  Join us TONIGHT, 2/11/2026, at 6:30pm for our weekly virtual local unit meeting, “Southwest Bargaining Beat.” We will provide updates on bargaining, focusing on the employer's proposal to replace EIB with Short-Term Disability. and, more importantly, on what we need to do to secure a good contract by the end of the month.  
  Meeting link
  
• PHSW Longview Event
  Come on down to our Longview PHSW Union Potluck and bring your Valentine! Our perfect Valentine is a Fair Contract that guarantees competitive wages, safe staffing, protection from workplace violence, fair pay for standby and overtime hours, and a mandatory low census cap for ALL nurses at PeaceHealth Southwest!
  
  Everyone is welcome — families, friends, and new faces too! Feel free to bring a plate, we will provide food too. Please RSVP so we have enough!
  
  Date: February 13, 2026, from 6-8:30 pm 
  Location: AWPPW Local 153 Union Hall 724 15th Ave, Longview, WA 98632
  
  RSVP Here: https://wsna.to/LongviewEvent
  
• Southwest Nurse Night
  Come on down to Sasquatch Pizza, have a slice with us, get to know other new nurses, and ask all the questions about the union and bargaining that your little heart desires! Family and Friends welcome and slices on us, booze is on you. Kid-friendly pinball machines, too! Looking forward to seeing you there!
  
  Date: Thursday 2/19/2026 from 6-9 pm 
  Location: Hungry/Thirsty Sasquatch (2110 Main St, Vancouver, WA)
  
  RSVP Here:  https://wsna.to/NewNurseNight
  
• Observe Bargaining Session 10 – 2/17/2026
  Join us for our ninth session next Tuesday, February 17. We will be in HEC classrooms 3/4. Please RSVP  — it helps us plan for how many observers we will have. (If you have a last-minute opportunity to join us, please do.) We are also scheduled for Session 11, the next day, 2/18/2026.
  
  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.