Bargaining Update Sessions #33 and 34 – No DEAL!

We met on 12/22 and 12/23 and do not have a deal.  We were happy to see that SCH put proposals on the table that for the first time offered 3 days of paid administrative leave to nurses injured due to workplace violence and a $7 premium for certain experienced nurses on night shift.  We are still bargaining over the particulars of these two issues, but we are encouraged to see the Hospital finally starting to meet our priorities on these two issues that are vital to nurse health and safety.  They also passed a proposal that moved in our direction on a number of issues including:

• Schedules
• Rest/meal break protections
• Years of service credit for certain per diems who take an FTE
• Flexibility around PFML supplementation that will allow nurses with sick leave/annual leave to extend their benefits coverage during Article 13 leaves

We did not TA the employer’s offer because it did NOT include:

• Market wages
• Break relief nurses for the CBDC (our last package limited break relief nurses to a 1-year pilot program in this unit where the break buddy system and missed breaks pose a particularly significant risk for complex and fragile patients)
• Safety Cares premium
• Critical Care Transport premium, or
• Enough incentive for night shift nurses

Wage Scale

The employer made a small increase to their wage proposal on 12/19, but did not add to the wage scale in its proposals this week other than to move up the proposed effective date of the wage increases to 10/1 each of the next two years.  Our wage proposals on the other hand accomplished our members’ goal to achieve market wages while working inside a budget we think Seattle Children’s can easily afford.

We proposed:

• a $10 wage increase to Step 1 over 3 years, with a range of $9-$17 wage increase over three years depending on wage step. This would be an average increase of 19% over 3 years for nurses.
• Year 1 raises would range between $3 and $11, with $3 across the scale in year 2, and $3 across the scale in year 3.

After initially proposing to not pay nurses retroactive pay for approximately half of the period back to 9/1, the employer today offered to pay the difference between the new wage and the old wage back to 9/1 through ratification so long as we reach a tentative agreement without the issuance of any strike notice.  Nurses would have the flexibility to convert this ratification bonus amount into sick leave.

Union's proposed wage scale

Employer's proposed wage scale

Two more days of negotiations have come and gone, and despite the impressive turnout and results of the strike vote, little progress has been made on our big four demands.

We know you all are ready to go, so we are formally requesting our meeting with the Labor Executive Council (LEC) to get authorization to strike and to discuss its timeline and duration.

Call to ACTION

There are several considerations that will go into our strategy moving forward. We need to be prepared for any action that will move things at the table. We have been met with threats that they will refuse to bargain if we issue a 10-day strike notice during both the notice period and any time-limited strike. While we get ready as a team to take our next step with the LEC, here are your next steps:

• Get financially prepared for the next step. Pick up whatever shifts you need to get ready for this. Coming soon will be a flyer with resources you can utilize during a strike and other ways to help make this financially feasible for everyone to make the impact we need to.  
  
• Send an e-mail to both Jeff Sperring and Christopher Longhurst. Ask Jeff if this is how he wants to end his decade long career at SCH. Ask Chris if this is how he wants to start his relationship with the nurses as he takes control of this organization.
  
• Wear your WSNA Blue! This shows management that we are UNITED in this fight for a FAIR contract.

We have set dates in January to continue to bargain and bridge gaps in the hope that we will reach an overall TA without having to go on strike to get the wages and working conditions that our dedicated nurses deserve.

Happy New Year, amazing nurses.  We will continue to fight for you!

YOU ARE WSNA! 

Do not hesitate to contact any of the officers if you have questions. All of our contacts are on our WSNA website. https://www.wsna.org/union/seattle-childrens-hospital. Also, utilizing our Instagram @sch_wsna offers quick updates and opportunities for DMs.

In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Team
Annika Hoogestraat, Kara Yates, Lindsey Kirsch, Sam Forte, Katie Podobnik, Therese Hill, Kelsey Gellner, AJ Nagal, Emma Gordon, Sarah Munro, Cody Ian, Lauren Lustyk, Regan Halom, Jon McAferty and Anne Marie Fountain

WSNA Nurse Rep Linda Burbank at lburbank@wsna.org