Bargaining Day #5 and #6
When Nurses UNITE
PeaceHealth LISTENS
Day 5 and 6 observers showed up! Float pool, ACU, ED and Surgery nurses came to support your WSNA Bargaining Team! Want to watch your colleagues at work fighting for your contract? Reach out to a negotiating team member to find out how you can observe a portion or all of the next bargaining sessions.
No deal on Oct 13
We are disappointed the parties could not come to a tentative agreement yesterday. Working into the night, important issues remained on the table and the negotiating team is holding firm. Of the issues remaining, break relief remains one of our top priorities left to address because we feel the system is broken.
You have UNITED WSNA RNs and management knows the nurses mean business. Day #5 and #6 were a success and a lot of movement was achieved at the table.
Tentative Agreements (TA’s) reached in these past two sessions:
- Additions to the Non-Discrimination article to clarify Compliance with Immigration Law and ensure procedural protections for immigrants workers
- Guaranteed locations for WSNA Bulletin Boards
- The Hospital’s commitment to fully train Relief NTLs prior to an independent assignment.
- Recognition of LPN experience upon hire for establishing nurses’ initial wage step
- Clear definitions of Voluntary & Mandatory Low Census
- Increase in Bereavement leave from 4 days/36 hours to 4 shifts. Nurses may also now take Bereavement leave in the event of a miscarriage or stillbirth.
- The ability of the parties to seek a mediator from the alternative dispute resolution providers, like the Washington Public Employment Commission and the Dispute Resolution Center.
- Clearer language regarding Per Diem communication and availability requirements
- Training to the NTL role will be strictly voluntary and nurses will not preform these tasks until full orientation and competency has been completed.
- Callback will go from 2 hours minimum call in pay to 3 hours.
- The employer will now track voluntary low census hours in addition to mandatory low census hours
In terms of wages, the parties are coming closer to an agreement. At the end of day #6, WSNA proposed $5.50 to the base then applying the same to the rest of the steps on the wage scale. WSNA proposed 4.25% increases for years 2 and 3 during the life of the contract. The Union also proposed eliminating the 6 “ghost steps” in the wage scale to ensure that nurses receive a wage improvement for each year of service.
We are tentatively scheduled to negotiate again on the 20th and 21st of October. We’ll let everyone know as soon as dates and times are confirmed.
Observers came to support the negotiating team, and the room was full! Want to see bargaining firsthand while supporting your negotiating team?
Observers play an important role in demonstrating that our bargaining team has the backing of the nurses they represent. If you’re interested in observing bargaining, sign up using the PeaceHealth United General Medical Center – Bargaining Observer form.
After you sign up, you will be contacted to discuss further information.
Nurses from ACU and ED standing strong, wearing their blue, participating in WINNER WEDNESDAY!
Nurse-a-saurous Strikes Again!
Come, round with us! Email jsmedley@wsna.org to help Glenn and Nurse Rep Jaclyn Smedley take a bite out of your prehistoric contract!
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Team
Shawna Smith, IP Rehab
Jason Holz, Emergency Department
Rachel Campbell, Emergency Department
Melonie Miller, ACU
Robyn Tilton, Surgery Center
Corey McBride, Float Pool
Glenn Fletcher, Surgery Center
Jeff Gammill, Float Pool