What’s next for Virginia Mason nurses?
On Wednesday, November 18, we will have our only bargaining session for the month. While we’d prefer to have more chances to negotiate, we can continue to turn up the pressure as management continues to ignore problems across the hospital. So, how do we turn up that pressure?
Current Steps
Right now, we are continuing to move our Community Petition. The numbers have increased substantially since the picket, and we want to keep getting as many signatures as possible. Share it on social media, ask your friends and family to sign, and make sure that people in our community can show their support!
Click here to access that petition!
Additionally, Virginia Mason has been touting itself as the #1 Hospital in Washington, but we don’t get treated like management values the care we provide. They can’t keep cutting costs and expecting us to do more with less. So, we’re insisting Virginia Mason live up to it’s reputation by pointing out their hypocrisy. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be filling out postcards that force management to confront how their actions are impacting patient care. If you want to be involved in that, reach out to our organizer Maia at [email protected].
What is a Strike?
Now that we did our informational picket, we need to have a serious discussion about striking. A strike is a total work stoppage for nurses at a hospital. It is also our most powerful tool for winning a strong contract. Before we use that tool, every nurse in the hospital needs to be informed and ready to fight!
Why are we considering striking?
Ultimately, this is about protecting our patients and our professions, and VM is still constantly looking for ways to cut costs. We have been in bargaining since June, and we have had to get a mediator involved. Even with a mediator, VM is sticking to some of their most outrageous demands and failing to meet several of the nurses’ key priorities like break nurses, overall staffing, and contract enforcement mechanisms. Meanwhile, management is taking actions across the hospital which seem prioritize saving money. A strike shows management how unacceptable this is and demonstrates how much they rely on us to keep the hospital running.
Who will take care of my patients if we strike? Will it be considered abandonment?
Your right to strike is protected by federal law. By standing up for improved conditions, you are advocating better care for your patients. As required by federal law, WSNA would give the Hospital 10 days advance notice before a strike (just like we did for the picket), so that the facility can make appropriate arrangements to ensure continuity of care.
Will I lose my job if I go on strike?
A strike is a protected activity under federal labor law, and it is illegal for the Hospital to fire you for participating in a strike.
Most strikes are called in part to protest unfair labor practices (ULPs) by the employer. A ULP is a violation of federal labor law. If the ULPs are upheld by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Courts, the employer cannot legally hire a permanent replacement to take your position.
In instances where a strike is over solely economic issues and not to protest ULPs, workers can be permanently replaced, but only after the actual hiring of a permanent replacement for your position. We can’t make any guarantees, but given the current nursing shortage, it seems unlikely that the Hospital would be in a position to permanently replace RNs.
Will this strike be a ULP strike?
Maybe, depending on the circumstances at the time the strike is called. WSNA has been keeping track of the ULPs management has committed during negotiations and plans to file those charges with the NLRB if we don’t reach a deal at our next session. VM nurses should provide WSNA with evidence of any potentially illegal conduct. WSNA will inform nurses of whether they are being asked to vote on a ULP strike or an economic strike before a strike vote is taken.
How can I prepare for a strike now?
Right now, we can start securing our finances for if we do go out on strike. Nurses can elect to cashout annual leave during annual benefit election, which is open until Friday November 13. If you have leave you can cash out, remember to do so. There is more information on this in our contract.
There will also be plenty more opportunities to help prepare for a strike, so keep reading our communications to stay in the loop!
Other Questions?
Join us tonight at our Virtual Bargaining Meeting, and bring any questions you have!
Time: 1800-1830 and 2000-2030
Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/255140941463423?p=1IDloVzbvwKzVrrqAr
In solidarity,
Your WSNA Bargaining Team
Hannah Collins-Lewis - Progressive Care
Michael Salters - CCU (ICU)
Kim Travis-Carter – ED
Martha Bermeo – Telemetry
Alison Wortman - Jones 5 – Procedural
Heather Schramm - IV Therapy
Haley Sheridan - IV therapy
Sara McNeil - CCU
Sara Frey, JD, BSN, RN
Nurse Representative
[email protected]