WSNA Winter Newsletter
Posted Feb 20, 2026
WSNA Leadership Conference is fast approaching! 25 Scholarships being offered for Free Registration of this event!
Level up Conference Time is running short for UWMC Montlake RNs to be eligible for a paid registration for the WSNA Level Up Leadership Conference Level Up your skills, your knowledge, and your power at WSNA’s 2026 Union Leadership Conference on April 26–28, 2026, at the Wenatchee Convention Center. Contact Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org. This opportunity is available on a first come, first served basis and the cutoff for registration is Monday, March 23. We will provide a promo code for the recipients to use in registration. Lodging is a separate item that nurses manage individually. Check it out to learn more about what to expect at the conference, agenda, lodging details and more. Now more than ever, unions need strong leaders like you. At Leadership, you’ll learn and grow, with some costume-party fun thrown in. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues, deepen your leadership knowledge, and prepare for the challenges and victories ahead.
Spaces are limited so sign up today!
ATR (Actual Time Recorded) Transition Bargaining has concluded
Link to MOU here
Since the conclusion of bargaining this Memorandum of Understanding, we have fielded numerous inquiries about how individual units may be impacted. We welcome your questions and feedback.
If you have circumstances unique to your situation or unit, feel free to reach out to WSNA Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org.
Meal Break Waivers…
You have likely seen new waivers for Meal and Rest Breaks that departments are asking all RN staff to sign. These waivers are designed to allow maximum flexibility for RNs to be able to take breaks and meals at a time that works best for individual RNs desires, daily flow and patient care needs.
The most important thing to know is that these waivers must be signed to create this flexibility and can be revoked at any time…even same day!
Here is the language that WSNA and the employer agreed upon regarding the revocation of waivers by RNs:
“An employee may revoke all or part of their waiver at any time, which can be done by informing their direct supervisor and sending an email to their manager per UW Medicine policy. If the employee wishes to revoke a waiver permanently, this must be done via the electronic waiver tool. “
Be sure that you get all of your meals and breaks and if circumstances to not allow for this, be sure to document your missed breaks and meals consistently.
Use your Personal Holiday Day First!
As one of your 12 annual holidays, one of them is titled as a “Personal Holiday”.
This holiday is a “Use it or Lose it” benefit day that is pro-rated for your FTE and must be used each calendar year. These do not roll-over to the next calendar year if unused… they are lost. Knowing that, be sure to schedule your Personal Holiday as part of your first time off request.
You deserve it!
See contract language below
12.1.1 Personal Holiday. 1. Each nurse may request one personal holiday each calendar year and the Manager must grant this day, provided: a. The nurse has been continuously employed by the institution for more than four (4) months; b. The nurse has made the request in accordance with the department scheduling guidelines; however, the nurse and the supervisor may agree upon an earlier date; and c. The number of nurses selecting a particular day off does not prevent providing continued public service. 2. Entitlement to the holiday will not lapse when denied under (1)(c) above. 3. Full-time nurses shall receive eight (8) hours of regular holiday pay for the personal holiday. Any differences between the scheduled shift for the day and eight (8) hours may be adjusted by use of vacation time off, use or accumulation of compensatory time or holiday credit as appropriate, or unpaid time off. 4. Part-time classified nurses shall be entitled to the number of paid hours on a personal holiday that are pro-rated to their FTE.
For questions, you can contact any of your officers or Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org.