Time To Take A Bite Out Of A Prehistoric Contract

Your bargaining team showed up to day 2 ready to fight for you.

We came prepared with our first economic proposal, along with proposals to address staffing, breaks, premiums, scheduling, and the realities nurses face every day.

Economics: Our First Wage Proposal

We put our first wage proposal on the table. We came to the table prepared to make meaningful economic improvements for nurses. These proposals recognize the additional work, responsibility, flexibility, and sacrifices nurses are being asked to make.

Our proposal included, but was not limited to:

• A stepwise wage scale that embodies increases that aim to align United nurses with the wages of Providence Everett. 
• Removal of the ghost steps
• Increases to NTL, Relief NTL, Preceptor, Float Pool, and Callback pay
• Premiums for House Charge, Interunit Floating, and Weekend Work
• Pay in lieu offerings for FTE RNs
• Addition of MLK  as a paid holiday

Management rejected some of our Day 1 non-economic proposals we sought to expand premiums for weekend work and working on a scheduled day off.

“We’re Working On It.”

One of the clearest themes from Day 2 was the difference between what nurses are experiencing today and the theoretical future Management says it is working toward.

This came up during our discussion about break relief.

Management acknowledged that missed breaks are a problem. We proposed contract language that would provide for a break relief RN position, however they rejected this application and  discussed their preference is to grow the Float Pool. Meaning potentially moving from the current model of two float nurses to three per shift.

Management showed us a rough draft of a break log and described a future model where additional Float Pool resources could help provide break coverage.

While the parties had meaningful discussion on how to accomplish adequate break relief, we reiterated to management our concerns with bolstering the float pool. Nurses are missing breaks now.

Our team also explained why dedicated break relief matters. Float nurses are routinely pulled to other needs, which can eliminate their ability to provide break coverage. Nurses shared what this looks like on the ground, from ED nurses working without relief to units where the NTL is already overwhelmed with patient volume and cannot realistically provide additional break coverage.

The message from our team was simple:

Nurses need their breaks. We need a solution that works in the real world, not one that might work someday.

Therefore, we proposed contract language designed to create a dedicated RN for break relief which we believe to be a more reliable process for nurses getting their breaks.

Management rejected it.

Weekend Coverage: We Brought A Solution

We proposed Baylor Shifts, weekend-only positions designed to help address weekend coverage. Management said they are not interested in exploring this at this time.

That is difficult to reconcile with the constant notifications nurses receive asking for weekend coverage. Again, our team brought a solution to a problem nurses are experiencing right now.

Tentative Agreements

We reached Tentative Agreements on three items:

• Training Positions and Transfers: Management may post training positions to include the ACU and oncology in addition to the already afforded, Surgical Services, and ED departments,, giving nurses opportunities to expand their scope and gain specialty training.
• Political Action Committee: Nurses may voluntarily authorize payroll deductions for WSNA PAC, with the Union providing monthly updates on any changes to the fixed amounts.
• Winter Holiday Scheduling: Holiday scheduling rules for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day will apply equally to regularly scheduled and per diem nurses, with per diem nurses providing their holiday availability through the established process.

Want To Get More Involved?

If you are passionate about United General and the nurses you work beside and want to become more involved, come join us for rounding on Monday, September 21 at 3:00 PM as we gear up for bargaining sessions #3 and #4 on September 22 and 23. We will meet in the cafeteria just before. Come at 2:50pm to join us!

Interested in attending bargaining as an observer? Reach out to your WSNA Nurse Representative, Ryan Silva at rsilva@wsna.org for more information.

Your Time Matters

Our bargaining team donates their time to fight the good fight for you. Show your support by donating your time too.

If you are able to donate PTO to support members of the bargaining team, please fill out the PTO Donation Form and send the completed form to your WSNA Nurse Representative, Ryan Silva at rsilva@wsna.org. 

We show up for each other. We fight for each other.

Day 2 showed that your bargaining team is coming to the table with concrete proposals and solutions.

We are not bargaining for “we're working on it.”

We are bargaining for real, enforceable improvements for nurses.

We showed up ready to fight for you, and we're not done!

In the event we need more days past next week, they have been secured for Oct and are below. Stay strong United RNs and stay united!

Oct. 7
Oct. 12 and 13

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