As many of you know, beginning January 1, 2020 the State’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave law goes into effect. This law provides paid time off paid by the State for serious injuries to employees, and for family leave.

To comply with the new law, PeaceHealth had decided to arrange for payment of employee only benefits (Short Term Disability benefits) through a Voluntary Plan payable through PeaceHealth HR. That Voluntary Plan is included in our recently ratified Agreement. PeaceHealth has now advised us that it has decided to back out of the Voluntary Plan and require nurses to apply for benefits through the State. The impact would not result in a change in monetary payout of benefits to you. WSNA has challenged this change and is demanding to bargain about it in early January. We expect you will hear from the Employer soon. For those immediately impacted by this change, WSNA urges you to contact PeaceHealth HR. You may also direct questions to Hanna Welander at WSNA. Further information will be coming out from us.

If you work 12-hour shifts, you may have received a form from the hospital that you must fill out. This form is a waiver for your second unpaid meal break. When we learned about this, the Union contacted Hospital Administration. This is a matter that also must be negotiated with the Union. We will also be addressing this at the upcoming bargaining session. If you have already completed your form, that’s not a problem. Although we have asked management to extend the deadline to allow for bargaining first, we recommend that in the meantime you fill out the form. Your choices on this form may be changed in the future.

For questions, please contact Hanna Welander, hwelander@wsna.org or (206) 575-7979, Ext. 3035.