Important News for You!

Payroll Errors 

WSNA understands there have been payroll errors with the rollout of a new system. Please carefully check your pay stubs to ensure that you were paid correctly. It may be on you to identify any errors. You should do this every pay period. If you have not been paid correctly and it has not been resolved, please contact your nurse rep ASAP.

Clocking out for meals

It has come to WSNA's attention that Whidbey is now requiring nurses to clock out for meals. This has the potential to negatively affect pay such as overtime, shift differentials and other premium provisions in the contract.  WSNA has already notified Whidbey that denials of any premium that occurs due to this new process would not be permissible. Again, please carefully check your paycheck every pay period to insure you are receiving the correct pay and notify WSNA ASAP if you believe you have been paid incorrectly.

Attendance policy

WSNA has also become aware that Whidbey recently issued a new attendance policy. This policy contains changes that affect your working conditions which means it is a mandatory subject of bargaining. WSNA has notified Whidbey that this new policy does not apply to nurses covered by the WSNA contract. If you are disciplined under this new policy (or even the old policy), please contact your WSNA ASAP. If you are asked to attend a meeting related to your attendance or some other performance concern, be sure to reach out to your grievance officer or WSNA rep to arrange for representation. You have the right to have a rep present at any investigatory meeting that may lead to discipline.

Staffing Committee - NEW MEMBERS NEEDED!

Your staffing committee is responsible for developing staffing plans that ensure that you have the staffing you need to care for your patients. Your staffing committee also reviews staffing complaints (ADOs) and works with management to come up with strategies and solutions to minimize incidents of staffing variations that don't meet the staffing plan or are inadequate to meet patient needs.

We have had several staffing committee members leave WGH through retirement or resignation and need members to attend a once per month meeting. This is PAID time and Whidbey must make arrangement for you to be released from work to attend. The meetings take place virtually so if you are not working, you do not need to come in and will be compensated for a minimum of 1 hour's pay. Training is provided!  We need new representation in the ICU, ED especially, and nurses from other areas are welcome.

Our WSNA staffing chair is currently on leave so if you are interested in joining or want to sit in to see what it is about, please contact your nurse rep for details!  Meetings take place on the 3^rd Wednesday of every month from 1 – 3 pm. The committee does not always meet for the full 2 hours.

Officer Elections

We will soon be holding officer elections. Officers serve an important role in helping to represent all of you!  Officer leadership is essential to help the Local Unit be an effective advocate for you and your co-workers and to make WSNA an effective representative in collective bargaining with our employer concerning wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The WSNA staff is here to help and support you in your work as Local Unit leader and your assigned Nurse Representative is your point of contact for advice, guidance and assistance.  Positions include - Chair, co-chair, secretary/treasurer and grievance officer.  Are you interested in running in one of these important roles?  Please reach out to your nurse rep for more details and watch for an announcement to be made calling for nominations!

Questions, comments or concerns? Please contact one of your officers or Nurse Representative, Sara Frey  sfrey@wsna.org.

Gwen Parrick - Chair
Laura Black - Grievance Officer