We are only two years out from being back at the negotiating table for our next contract. That might feel hard to believe, especially after the long and hard fight it took last year to win a fair agreement.

But one thing is crystal clear. During our last round of negotiations, we showed what is possible when nurses are engaged, organized, and standing together.

Hundreds of nurses observed bargaining at the table. Nearly a thousand of us showed up on the picket line. We shattered participation records when it came time to vote on our contract.

That level of engagement did not happen by accident. And if we want to protect what we won and build toward even more in the next contract, the work starts now.

Nursing is not in the same place as it was during the COVID and post-COVID years. Management knows that. Getting the wages, protections, and working conditions we deserve is going to require all of us to stay involved, informed, and connected.

To do that, we are focused on building strong union infrastructure and developing nurse leaders at St. Joe’s.

WSNA Union Leadership Conference

Wenatchee | April 26–28

WSNA is expanding its biannual Union Leadership Conference and making a significant investment in local-level leadership. As part of this shift, WSNA is moving from a unit rep model to a “Union Steward” model.

Union Stewards are contract experts. They are empowered to stand on equal footing with management and are equipped with the tools and support they need to enforce our contract and protect our coworkers.

We want St. Joe’s RNs to be part of this next step. To support that, we are offering 10 leadership conference scholarships, which include:

• A registration code to attend the conference at no cost
• Up to $600 in reimbursement to cover travel, hotel, and food expenses

Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Acceptance of a scholarship does require a commitment to serve as a Union Steward through the end of the current contract.

If you are interested in a scholarship or want to learn more about what being a Union Steward involves, including time commitments that are likely less than you think, please reach out to Jared at JRichardson@WSNA.org.

Monthly In-Person Meetups and Night Shift Rounding

We are also committed to being more visible and accessible.

Starting in March, we will be holding monthly in-person meetups at rotating locations in the Bellingham area on the first Tuesday of each month. In addition, we will be doing in-person night shift rounding on the third Tuesday of each month, with additional nights scheduled so we can connect with as many nurses as possible.

We will share specific times and locations soon, and we hope to see you in person.

Building Power Together

A strong contract does not come from a handful of people. It comes from nurses showing up for each other, learning our contract, building relationships, and taking collective action when it matters.

Every conversation, every meeting, every steward trained makes our union stronger. If we want to win again at the bargaining table, it is going to take all of us.

Let’s keep leveling up, together.

In solidarity,
Laura Bayes, Co-Chair
Amber Pouley, Co-Chair
Jenn Engelhart, Co-Secretary
Laura Sherwood, Co-Secretary
Tracy Pullar, Treasurer
Stacy Gaggia Libby, Grievance Officer
Celeste Montoy-Seimears, Membership Officer
Tracy Taylor, Membership Officer
Kristin Malmo, Communications Officer
Kelly Carroll, Communications Officer
Errin Hull, Co-Occupational Health and Safety Officer
Jessica Moran, Co-Occupational Health and Safety Officer

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jared Richardson, jrichardson@wsna.org.