On March 24, we had a series of virtual local unit meetings for negotiation updates and calls for action.

To date, we have met with management for 11 sessions at the bargaining table. Our focus all along has been to improve staffing by retaining and attracting nurses to work at Southwest. At our last meeting, On Friday, March 19 your WSNA bargaining team proposed the following to management:

• Across the board increases of 5.0% (in the first year), 4.0% (second year) and 4.0% (third year)
• Additional steps for years 32 and 35 for years of service
• Increase in relief charge pay
• Night shift differential for all hours worked plus an increase in the amount
• Increase in resource nurse pay (there hasn’t been one in over a decade!)
• Float differential
• Increase call pay with a higher amount for nurses who take more than 48 hours of call

After receiving our comprehensive proposal, management requested we wait until 6:30pm for their counter proposal. Management’s Friday counter proposal included:

• Across the board increases of 2.0% (in the first year), 2.5% (second year) and 2.5% (third year).
• Increase in holiday call pay
• In addition, they made extremely modest proposals of increases that truly were nickel and dimes for differentials and premiums (15 cents to basic call, 5 cents to night differential)

Management’s counter was disrespectful to nurses who have literally put their lives on the line this past year. We, the nurses at PeaceHealth Southwest, deserve a fair and just contract which will make us economically competitive with surrounding hospitals and also recognize the value of the level of care we give to the patients in our community.

Make your contract stronger NOW by showing your unity and support for a fair contract by:

• Proudly wearing a sticker (they’re on your bulletin boards) every shift;
• Signing the petition to attend a rally for the nurses;
• Encouraging all your colleagues to sign it too!;
• Scanning and emailing or taking a photo of the signed petition and returning to your local unit officers or your WSNA nurse organizer Ryan Rosenkranz cell phone: 206-867-4726 or by email at RRosenkranz@wsna.org

By standing together, we will achieve the fair contract we deserve. United we bargain, divided we beg!

In solidarity,
Your negotiating team;
Didi Gray; Local unit co-chair, Birth Center
Jonathan Chase; Local Unit co-chair; Tower 7
Shanta Gervickas; Observation Unit
Dawn Marick; Resource
Deb Krenzler; Short Stay Surgery
Melissa Smithdeal; MoJo 2
Mark Bolen; ICU
Erin Irwin; PCU
Gretchen Ruff; OR
Erica Ostenson; MoJo 4