Our most recent bargaining session on August 12 marked our tenth day at the table. We continue to exchange counter proposals, primarily focused on wages. While management has shown some slight movement toward our position, their latest wage offer remains insufficient given the competitive Eastern Washington market and Sunnyside’s urgent need to recruit and retain experienced nurses.

Here’s where we stand on some of the key issues:

IBD shifts

• We have proposed changes to IBD language that we believe aligns with sick leave protections. Management has not responded to our previous proposal. We will continue to push for incentive shifts that are protected, and the time commitment is respected.

Wages

• Management has mentioned Prosser Memorial Hospital as a competitor for nurses but is proposing wages for 2025 that, on average, lag behind those at Prosser and will fall further behind in 2026.  We have proposed competitive wages for all years of the contract. Wages that will recruit new staff to a rural area and that will keep experienced staff for long-term employment.  We have also proposed increases to differentials and premiums that reflect the skill, time, commitment and expertise of the nursing staff.

Break Relief 

At this time the bargaining team members believe there is a continued need to address break relief but without members utilizing the ADO forms or accurately documenting missed meal and rest breaks we will need additional data.

What you can do to ensure management’s focus on adequate breaking:

• Whenever you are not completely relieved of your work duties during a meal or rest break, enter it as a missed break in Kronos and fill out an ADO with the reason for the missed break.
• If you cover for another nurse’s break and care for more patients that is contemplated under the staffing plan or feel that the added patient care duties are inappropriate, fill out an ADO.

Tentative Agreements (TA):

• Removed callback for exception to rest between shift language
• Increased PTO cash out
• Increased rights in the grievance process
• Updated low census list

Upcoming Negotiation Dates: 

• Sept 18
• TBD

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement. Together, we continue to advocate for safer, fairer working conditions and better compensation.