We all know there are many reasons staffing is a safety issue. We made it clear Friday we are not backing down on our proposal for staffing ratios!

We also proposed putting the Spot Pay/On Call Incentive MOU in the contract.

We spent a lot of time talking about safety and the increasing workplace violence. Our team shared some of the stories VM nurses have suffered. Stories about nurses being threatened, assaulted, and finding weapons inside the hospital in belongings of patients, family, and visitors.  We also shared about the lack of support nurses have received from management.

Our team is serious about trying to make VM as safe as possible with proposals that can be done and are reasonable. Some of our safety proposals included:

• Metal detectors
• Notices posted stating no weapons tolerated.
• Security canines on campus 24/7.
• Security guards on all floors with patients that pose a violent safety risk.
• Any nurse may request a security guard if they do not feel safe with a patient.
• Trained effective sitters.
• Voluntary self-defense and de-escalation training at no cost to the nurse that is paid time.
• All units locked.
• WSNA Nurse rep allowed to attend the Safety Committee.
• Nurses will not be discouraged from filing police reports.
• Management to respond to nurses appropriately if they are assaulted.

 We need every VM nurse to join us in raising our voices. File ADOs when you have safety concerns. ADOs are documentation of what happened and WSNA receives a copy of every ADO.

You can submit an ADO by using the link - https://www.wsna.org/union/ado - or the QR code below.

We need to hear every story out there about safety concerns and workplace violence. Please Click on the link below and share your personal story. All of our individual stories, expressed collectively, will make a difference. Use the link or QR code below to share your story.

Remember: Breakfast with Bargainers

Please join us. Meet our negotiating team. Learn what is happening at the negotiations table from the people who are there. Discover why every VM nurse needs to participate in this process if we really want to achieve safe staffing and workplace safety at VM.

Date: Aug. 5
Time: 8 – 10:30 a.m.
Place: Lost Lake Café in Capitol Hill
1505 10^th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122

Our next session will be on August 2 & 3.  Join us as an observer at negotiations by emailing Organizer Sam Scholl at sscholl@wsna.org. Watch for further updates on what YOU can do to support your negotiation team and help with the fight to Save Virginia Mason. 

Find us on Instagram, post your solidarity pics!
https://www.instagram.com/vmfhbargaining_unit

Join our private Facebook group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/virginiamasonrns

(10) WSNA - Virginia Mason RNs | Facebook 
Become a member, make our voice stronger!

In solidarity,
The Bargaining Team
Kim Adekoya, ER; Sam Asencio, WSNA Treasurer and OR; Martha Bermeo, C8; Hannah Collins-Lewis, C9; Jane Hill Littlejohn, WSNA Chair and Resource Nurse; Art Laycock, IV; Kaylyn Lesser, ER Aaron Persinger, C17; Michael Salters, CCU; Kim Travis-Carter, ED; Donna Watts, Birth Center; Allison Wortman, J5 Recovery

Questions or comments, please contact your Nurse Representative, Barbara Friesen bfriesen@wsna.org.