Bargaining Update Session 12 – Not enough movement

We met jointly as staff and supervisor nurses with the County on August 11, for our twelfth bargaining session.

Who was at the bargaining table?

Here’s who was present at the table on the County's side:

· Robin Laurence, Interim CNO
· Erin Larson, CHS Area Manager
· Mariya Kunin, CHS Employee Labor Relations
· James Crowe, Office of Labor Relations (Lead Negotiator)
· Jake Ketchum, CHS Area Manager
· Martha Castro, CHS Division Deputy Director

Absent from the table, but usually at the table:

· Rebecca Cole, Continuous Improvement Specialist JHS
· David Clayborn, Employee Labor Relations (Public Health and Jail Health Services)
· Adrienne Miller, Prevention Division Director

Here’s who was at the table on the WSNA Staff/Supervisors' side:

· Elena Schensted, Chair - Staff Nurse
· Kiesha Garcia-Stubbs, CHS Grievance Officer - Staff Nurse
· Evie Devera, Secretary/Treasurer - Staff Nurse
· Stephen Lee, Vice Chair - Staff Nurse
· Carolyn Clark, JHS Grievance - Staff Nurse
· Christopher Salatka, Vice Chair - Supervisor 
· Annie Roberts, Secretary/Treasurer – Supervisor
· Linda Burbank, WSNA Supervisor Representative
· Danielle Franco-Malone, WSNA Counsel
· Tara Barnes, WSNA Staff Representative

Was there movement on proposals?

The County provided a package proposal that encompasses all open proposals from both the County and the Union. Here’s the shorthand updates on our highest-stake items:

No movement on Longevity

· We vulnerably voiced our frustration and discontentment to the County regarding their lack of movement and failure to recognize the significance of this proposal.

Movement on Parking

· The County has proposed to keep reduced parking at Goat Hill until December 2028 due to ongoing staffing challenges.

· The County is proposing to maintain parking benefits for jail health nurses. This movement was made as part of a package proposal, which included the County refusing to increase limits on comp time accrual. While both benefits impact recruitment and retention, they address different needs. Parking is for safe and affordable access to the workplace, while comp time allows nurses to recover from the demands of high-stress work. We continued to fight for increased comp time at the bargaining table.

Movement on Wage Increases

· The County has proposed a 3-year contract with a 3.75% GWI in 2026, 3.75% GWI in 2027, COLA formula in 2028 with a floor of 3% and ceiling of 4%.

Movement on grieving Discrimination

· The County proposed that discrimination claims be grievable, but not arbitrable.

What can you do to get a FAIR and STRONG Contract?

Share your message with the County, Community and Stakeholders. If you haven’t already, please Sign the Petition demanding a fair contract. We need to show the County that ALL its nurses are unified in our demands.

· Find the placards below and take a photo. You can find them at several work sites or download and print them from our WSNA webpage. Send the photos to Nurse Rep Linda Burbank at lburbank@wsna.org  so we can share our messages:

Links to

Seattle King County loves public health nurses

Seattle King County nurses deserve a fair contract now! 

While we are scheduled to meet again on August 26th, we were clear that the County has not yet provided pertinent information request responses for our priority proposals. They need to demonstrate that they are serious about coming to an agreement. We will continue to provide timely updates.

Your Bargaining Team,

Christopher Salatka, Local Unit Vice-Chair
Annie Roberts, Local Unit Secretary/Treasurer
Zerai Asgedom, Local Unit Grievance Officer

Questions? Contact your Bargaining Team Members or WSNA Nurse Rep Linda Burbank lburbank@wsna.org