Dear Virginia Mason Nurses,

After months of advocating for a wage increase in both conference committee and staffing committee to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses at VM, your officers were able to convince CHI that action was necessary. The 4% increase is in addition to whatever wage increases will be secured at the negotiation table in 2023, however, it is not enough.

With the current market, 4% is simply not enough to keep good nurses or recruit new nurses to VM. It is time to band together and push hard when negotiations start not just for nurses and the future of the nursing profession, but for the safety of our patients and our community.

Join us for one of two virtual meetings on 11/29 to talk about what it is going to take to get a fair, just, and economically competitive contract.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 29 - 5-6:30 p.m. or 8-9:30 p.m.

Where: Join virtually via Microsoft teams. If you did not receive the email with a link, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Sara Frey or one of your officers for the information.

Topics of conversation:

• 4% is not enough –
  Learn about mid-contract raises and what led up to the 4% wage increase. What is going on around the greater Puget Sound region?
• ADOs
  - Purpose of ADOs – why are ADO’s critically important and how are they used?
• DOH complaints
  - What is happening right now with Department of Health staffing complaints?
• Contract negotiations 2023 –
  plan for bargaining, forming a team and getting input from all nurses.
• Staffing – Hear from our legislative specialists on plans for the upcoming legislative session.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Sara Frey, JD, BSN, RN, at sfrey@wsna.org.