Hospital Staffing Committee

• The Hospital Staffing Committee (HSC) remains a critical battleground between nurses and hospital administration. The HSC is 50% Union and 50% management. It is not a management-run committee. By both the charter and the law, nurses sit on equal footing with administration.
• Management continues to provide aggregated data that hides the details we need to make real staffing improvements. We demand full access to information on staffing plan compliance, meal and rest break compliance, and turnover. Without it, the HSC cannot fulfill its purpose. We will continue to hold the employer accountable until we get the data nurses are entitled to.
• The next HSC meets on 9/3 at 0800. We will send out the link the day before. Join us so that your voice is heard and so we can demand safe staffing for our patients and each other.

ADOs

Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) forms are one of our most powerful tools. Staffing-related ADOs must be addressed by the HSC within 90 days. ADOs for safety, security, or equipment issues go directly to leadership for resolution.

If something impacts your ability to provide safe, effective care, file an ADO.

• Short staffed? File an ADO.
• Patient acuity too high? File an ADO.
• Broken scanner? File an ADO.

It is illegal for management to retaliate against you for filing an ADO. If you ever face intimidation or retaliation, reach out immediately to an officer or Nurse Representative Jared at JRichardson@WSNA.org.

Meals and Rest Breaks

Last week, the Department of Labor and Industries reaffirmed our rights to meal and rest breaks. Here are key takeaways every nurse should know:

• You are guaranteed a rest break every 4 hours worked.
• You are guaranteed a meal break every 5 hours worked. You may waive a second meal break if you choose, but you can revoke that waiver at any time, even during your shift.
• Breaks must be uninterrupted. You should not be answering phones or responding to questions during breaks except in rare emergencies.
• Employers cannot coerce you into signing a waiver.
• Employers cannot retaliate or discipline you for reporting missed breaks.
• Employers must report break compliance to L&I every quarter. This is why it is vital to log every missed meal and rest break.
• At St. Joe’s, the use of “break buddies” also violates staffing plans. Safe breaks are your right under the law and under our contract.

Our strength comes from standing together. Every ADO filed, every nurse who shows up at the HSC, and every break logged builds the case for safe staffing and fair working conditions. We are united in demanding respect, safety, and accountability. Together, we win.

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

WSNA Nurse Representative Jared Richardson, jrichardson@wsna.org