Previously, MultiCare sent out notification that they were offering voluntary furloughs. Your WSNA officers, along with WSNA leadership, SEIU and UFCW21 worked together to improve the terms and conditions that MultiCare was providing in the voluntary furlough offer. Importantly, we have secured the following terms: no “at-will” language, seniority, and not contesting unemployment benefits. This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is retroactive to April 19, 2020.

The MOA uses the word “standby.” In this document, standby does not have the meaning as you know it. The WA Employment Securities Department used the term “standby” to designate that employees placed on standby will not be required to continue to look for work. That is why it is called standby in the MOA, solely for the purposes of unemployment eligibility.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Sydne James, sjames@wsna.org.