The current contract between WSNA and The Department of Veterans Affairs expires June 30, 2021. This survey is the first step in our preparation for contract negotiations! Your input is critical in determining our priorities as we head to the bargaining table. It is vital that we know your issues and concerns prior to the start of the negotiations.

Please take a moment to complete the contract negotiation survey.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representatives Travis Elmore (telmore@wsna.org) or Debi Bessmer (dbessmer@wsna.org).

The current contract between WSNA and The Department of Veterans Affairs expires June 30, 2021. This survey is the first step in our preparation for contract negotiations! Your input is critical in determining our priorities as we head to the bargaining table. It is vital that we know your issues and concerns prior to the start of the negotiations. Please take a moment to complete the contract negotiation survey.

**Don't delay!**

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Travis Elmore (telmore@wsna.org) or Debi Bessmer (dbessmer@wsna.org).

Recently elections were held for local unit officer positions.
Congratulations to the following Veterans Home RN’s who have been elected to serve a term of office!

Local Unit Chair – Elizabeth Wehnert
Vice Chair – Candis Queen
Secretary/Treasurer – Mary Robinson
Grievance Officers –Michele Liedtke and Elizabeth Wehnert

You are WSNA!

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Travis Elmore at telmore@wsna.org.

As of August 16, 2019, Travis Elmore will be your WSNA nurse representative. Travis can be reached at telmore@wsna.org or 206-575-7979, ext. 3117.

I have decided to leave my employment at WSNA. It has been both an honor and a pleasure working with all of you and I wish you the best. I know you will be in good hands with Travis.

Sincerely,

Michele Rose, BSN, RN
WSNA Nurse Representative

The Association would like to thank everyone who voted. The Governor now has the contract for review. After the Governor has reviewed it, he will give his recommendation to the Legislature and during the 2019 Legislative session a final decision will be made, stay tuned! Any updates and/or Association asks will be sent through WSNA electronic or USPS mail and posted on your local unit webpage. So please keep current and be prepared to act.

Are you not receiving Association communications? Please contact the Association at membership@wsna.org or call 1 (800) 231-8482 to add or update your contact information.

WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose, RN, 1 (800) 231-8482, ext. 3012, mrose@wsna.org

When: Sept. 24, 2018

When and Where:

• 6:30-8:30 a.m. in the Sinclair Conference room
• 1-3 p.m. in the Small Administrative Conference room

The Coalition Negotiating Teams succeeded in getting a Tentative Contract/Health Care Benefits Agreement with the State of Washington. The Coalition Negotiating teams worked extremely hard in negotiating the Contract/Health Care Benefits Agreement and are recommending a YES vote. The extended/redline version of the WSNA-State of Washington Contract/Health Care Benefits Tentative Agreement will be available for you to review during voting hours. Remember, in order to vote you must be a WSNA member and a member in good standings.

If you have any questions contact WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose at 1 (800) 231-8482, ext. 3012 or mrose@wsna.org.

Contract negotiations

The State and the Coalition have met four more times for contract negotiations and we have made progress in reaching some tentative agreements. At our last meeting on July 25, each coalition group met individually with the State’s lead negotiator, each Agency’s management representative and representatives from the Office of Financial Management to discuss individual economic proposals. Hopefully at our next scheduled contract negotiations on Aug. 22, the State will be ready with their response to these economic proposals. Stay tuned!

For any questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3012 or at mrose@wsna.org.

Health benefits bargaining to begin

The State and the Coalition of Unions Health Benefits bargaining is to begin on Aug. 3. This session will be at the South Sound Manor (455 North St. SE, Tumwater, WA 98501). The Coalition of Unions will pre-meet in the McElroy room from 8:30 – 11 a.m. and bargaining with the State will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the same room.

The second bargaining session will be Aug. 10, 2018. Location is still to be determined.

Please frequent the local unit webpage for updates and meeting locations.

Your voice is needed at this bargaining table. If you are interested in being part of this bargaining, please contact WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3012 or at mrose@wsna.org.

The May 23, 2018 contract negotiations were cancelled due to the State needing more time to ready their proposals. Our next contract negotiations date is June 20 and 21. Stay tuned!

Please frequent the WSNA/Washington Veterans Home Local Unit webpage for possible updated communications.

If you have any questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3012 or at mrose@wsna.org.

Our WSNA local unit desperately needs local unit officers. Think, who besides yourself are our local unit potential leaders? In becoming a local unit officer you help to strengthen our local unit and you gain working knowledge of our Employer/WSNA contract. These are wonderful leadership roles, step forth and seize this opportunity. Please watch for our local unit nominations form to arrive shortly via your USPS mail.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about becoming a local unit officer, please speak with Karen Bryan or contact WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3012 or mrose@wsna.org.

In solidarity,

Local Unit Chair Karen Bryan and Local Unit Grievance Officer Lou Atensio

May 9, 2018

Attention Washington Veterans Home Nurses!

The first day of the 2019-2021 Contract Negotiations is complete! On May 9, 2018 we presented and explained our Coalition Contract proposals to Management. Our next Contract Negotiations date is: May 23, 2018. Stay tuned!

Please frequent the WSNA/Washington Veterans Home Local Unit webpage for possible updated communications.

If you have any questions, contact Michele Rose, WSNA Nurse Representative at 1-800-231-8482 extension 3012 or mrose@wsna.org.

We desperately need your help. In order to strengthen our local unit we need you to step up and become a local unit officer. Being a local unit officer is not hard, nor is it particularly time consuming and there is training. Being a local unit officer can be an advantage because it will increase your working knowledge of our Employer/WSNA contract. When we know our contract, we become acutely aware of proposed changes or issues that might conflict with what our contract affords us.

If you still have the nomination form that WSNA sent to you previously, please complete and return it to WSNA. If you no longer have the form, email or call WSNA Nurse Representative Michele Rose with your nominations. Michele needs this information right away so elections can be held. If you have any questions about being a local unit officer, please speak with either of us or contact Michele Rose, WSNA Nurse Representative at 1 (206) 575-7979, ext. 3012 or mrose@wsna.org.

In Solidarity,

Karen Bryan, LU Chair
Lou Atencio, LU Grievance Officer