Per your contract, “the break buddy system will not be the primary method of providing break relief and will only be used as a last resource.” The hospital is required to track the use of break buddies on each unit and report that to WSNA and the staffing committee. PLEASE help us determine if the hospital is following their commitment to eliminate the use of break buddies by filling out this sheet each shift. You play an important role in holding VM accountable for providing the right resources to meet this commitment.

As a reminder, your breaks and meals must be on time, uninterrupted and you must be completely relieved of duty. Otherwise, you should be adding a missed break and/or meal when you clock out. Please also consider filing a complaint with Labor and Industries if you are not getting breaks and/or meals. To report missed meals or rest breaks:  https://secure.lni.wa.gov/wagecomplaint/#/

It is important for your safety and the safety of your patients! Accounting for your missed breaks holds VM accountable and you must be paid for your time worked!

Grievance – as previously discussed, the hospital’s solution to end the use of break buddies was to dump this responsibility on charge nurses who are already stretched extremely thin with the current state of staffing. Your contract states that it “will not be the norm for the Charge Nurse to have a patient assignment.” Clearly, taking over the assignment of another nurse while they are on a break or meal break, is an assignment. A grievance was filed and WSNA is waiting for the hospital’s response at step 3.

Questions? Please contact one of your local unit officer, nurse representative Sara Frey sfrey@wsna.org or organizer Grace LeMonte GLaMonte@wsna.org.

In solidarity,
Chair - Hannah Collins-Lewis
Vice Chair - Michael Salters
Secretary - Kimberly Travis-Carter
Treasurer - Samuel Asencio
Grievance Officer - Donna Watts
Grievance Officer - Aaron Persinger
Grievance Officer - Kim Adekoya
Staffing Co-Chair – Nicole Vernon
WSNA Organizer Grace LaMonte, glamonte@wsna.org
WSNA Nurse Rep Sara Frey, sfrey@wsna.org