In our seventh day of negotiations on April 25, Overlake presented us with yet another unacceptable proposal, with no movement from their previous wage proposal for year one of the contract. Furthermore, Overlake’s proposal included: no contribution to your out of pocket health benefit costs, elimination of float pool break relief nurses, lower PTO accrual rates than what are currently in your contract, as well as other takeaways. We were prepared to work into the night during this bargaining session to make additional progress, but Overlake made clear that they would not stay past 5 p.m.

In response, each and every Overlake nurse on the bargaining team vehemently explained to Overlake why we could not accept their proposals. We made the decision to make another comprehensive proposal that includes the following, on the condition that Overlake accept it by 4:45 p.m., which they did not do. Our proposal sought:

• To secure an increase that gets you wages on par with the most highly-paid union nurses in the Seattle-Bellevue area, including getting us above the average of those facilities at twenty-three of the thirty steps on our wage scale
• Annual contributions by Overlake to funds for your out-of-pocket costs to access medical care
• Step increases annually, rather than based on hours – this would mean those part-time nurses who have to wait more than a year for longevity step increases would get them annually
• Preservation of PTO accrual rates, with EIB essentially converting to sick leave (thus available immediately) effective June 21, 2024
• Preservation of the eight break relief nurses in the float pool, plus the addition of dedicated break relief nurse roles in units most in need of break relief

We return to the bargaining table on May 9.

Take Action

Please continue wearing your WSNA blue shirts on Fridays and stickering up on negotiation days. Also, you have the right to file an ADO about a nurse or patient safety issue, which could include a missed meal or rest break or short staffing. Please file an ADO when necessary – Overlake may not retaliate against you for doing so. For information about these and other actions, contact Tara (tbarnes@wsna.org), Zach (zsiegal@wsa.org), or a bargaining or CAT team member.

In unity,

Your negotiation team 
Chris Birchem Ortho/Spine Surgery
Cassie Bundick CCU
Caine Ballew Float Pool
Michele Percosky OPS
Kristin Barnett IPS
Stacey Alvarez ED
Melissa Santos CCU
Balla Sarr Break Relief RN