Your Union Officers have Your Back!

Reports of possible retaliation from Management

We have been hearing that you all are getting emails, meetings, and/or conversations about filing ADOs. Please report any form of possible retaliation when you are filing ADOs. It is against our Professionalism Resolution Process for Medical Staff Policy and against WA state law:

“Retaliation in response to a person raising concerns about behavior that may violate laws or policies present a threat to safety or security.”

We’ve also heard concerns about using your full name in the Contract Negotiation survey. Rest assured that only your WSNA Nurse Representative, Organizer, and Elected Officers will receive your survey and NO ONE from UW management or administration. 

Please contact your WSNA Elected Officers IMMEDIATELY if you have any concerns of retaliation, discrimination, and/or harassment from UW Management at wsnauwmontlake@gmail.com

L&I Worker Rights Complaint: https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/workplace-complaints/worker-rights-complaints

Filing a complaint is protected — retaliation by your employer is illegal

Important information about the discipline process

If your manager or direct supervisor asks to have a conversation with you, please remember this phrase:

• Can this lead to discipline now or in the future?

If the answer is No, please have the conversation but recap with an email. If the answer is YES, you can request a union representative, and you are only obligated to listen to your manager. (Anything you say is part of the record)

If you have an investigatory meeting, please bring one of the grievance officers or the nurse representative with you to this meeting.

After the investigatory meeting, you may receive discipline. At this point, we will discuss filing a grievance.

If you are issued a discipline, it’s important to remember to request the discipline be removed from your file after 2-years unless a different drop date is added to the discipline.

Refer to your contract for more information about your rights under the contract and the discipline process.

ADO/DOH Complaint Update!

Your WSNA Elected Officers has submitted 39 DOH complaints that all compromised of short staffing, unsafe break buddy situations, forced overtime, and adverse patient safety events. 

10 of the DOH complaints were dismissed because they have been resolved through our own Hospital Staffing Committee (HSC). One of the 10 DOH complaints that were resolved involved a cardiac arrest when nurses were utilizing the Break Buddy System.

There are 3 current open investigations that are occurring with DOH and L&I. We cannot reveal too much of the investigations. Until then, PLEASE KEEP FILING ADOs!

Do not let your voice be silenced! Do not be fearful because we are standing up for patient safety against an antiquated system that puts our patients and nurses at harm. We, as UW Montlake nurses should continue to stand up against systems and failures that affect the vulnerable patient populations we serve. Our ADOs help us keep the hospital accountable for their failure to provide proper staffing and proper break relief. Our ADOs are our paper trail to DOH and L&I because if we didn’t document it, it didn’t happen. Our ADOs help us during bargaining and let UW know that safe staffing and proper break relief is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

File an ADO at www.wsna.org/ado.

UW Montlake’s Staffing Plan (All Units): https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/hospital-policies/UWMedicalCenterNS.pdf

Hospital Staffing Committee RCW 70.21.420: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=70.41.420

Complete our Union Contract Bargaining Survey

The current contract between WSNA and the UW Medical Center - Montlake expires June 30, 2027. WSNA’s elected officers will negotiate with UWMC Administration next year. This survey is our first step in our preparation for contract negotiations. Your input is critical to determining our priorities as we head to the bargaining table. It is vital that we know your issues and concerns prior to the start of the negotiations.

Take a moment to complete this survey now. The power of representation comes from the willingness of registered nurses to unite; our strength is in unity!

Remember, in order for our union to be an effective, strong, influential voice for you at the negotiation table, we need your membership and involvement.

Your survey responses are confidential and will only be accessible to the WSNA negotiating team; identities of respondents will only be visible to WSNA staff; UWMC’s management will not have access to them.

The survey will close Jan. 9, 2027.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UWMLnego2027

Upcoming Events:

October 19 - 6-7:30 pm - Basic Steward Training

Come learn what it means to be a Steward and a Union Leader!
Steward training covers the basics of contract enforcement and workplace organizing. Topics include:

• The role of a Union Steward
• Our rights at work
• Investigatory meetings
• Internal issue organizing for your unit
• Actions for our next contract negotiations

Email WSNA Organizer Zach Seikel at zseikel@wsna.org to RSVP. 

Phone banking party at WSNA HQ Oct 20, 1-3pm

Please join us Tuesday, October 20 from 1:00-3:00pm PST for a Labor Neighbor "Phonebanking Party" at the WSNA office in Tukwila. WSNA will be joining the WSLC Labor Neighbor phonebank to talk to WSNA and other union members and encourage support for WSNA and labor-endorsed candidates ahead of the November general election. Refreshments and snacks will be provided! 

Please RSVP to sbailey@wsna.org so we can plan accordingly. 

I’m interested! How do I get started?

1. Register now through WSLC’s Mobilize link: https://www.mobilize.us/waaflcio/event/1030854/.
2. Enter your contact information and select "October 20 from 1-3pm."
3. After registering, you’ll receive a Zoom link and event reminders by email.
4. At the start of each phonebank, you’ll receive online training, review the script, and get access to a Google folder containing the script, FAQs, and phonebank access code.
5. After each phonebank, call results will be uploaded and shared with WSLC and WSNA.

I can't do Oct 20, but I still want to participate. What can I do?

That's great to hear! You can find additional dates through WSLC's Mobilize link: https://www.mobilize.us/waaflcio/event/1030854/. Simply follow the same registration steps outlined above but choose the date/time that works best for you!

Halloween Trick-or-Treat Rounding

Keep an eye out for our elected officers as they round across all shifts this month. They'll be handing out Halloween candy, WSNA shirts, and other swag while stopping by to wish you a Happy Halloween. Thank you for all you do for our patients and coworkers!

In Solidarity,
Your WSNA UWMC Montlake Officers

Email: wsnauwmontlake@gmail.com

IG: wsna_uwmontlake