First, a reminder for the WSNA monthly meeting in-person at the Girard building in the conference room or on Microsoft Teams, next on Feb 19 at 1130 am.

Meeting ID: 291 142 227 580 Passcode: EX7EX94n
Dial in by phone +1 206-485-2614,,803150190# - United States, Seattle

• Pay increases Watch your pay statements to ensure you received the annual increase, effective following the first full pay period of January 2026: 2.75% increase for all steps. Wage step increases can be found on pg. 31, 32 of your 3-year union contract, according to your job classification range.
  
• Level up Conference Time is running short for a Whatcom nurse to be eligible for a paid registration for the WSNA Level Up Leadership Conference Level Up your skills, your knowledge, and your power at WSNA’s 2026 Union Leadership Conference on April 26–28, 2026, at the Wenatchee Convention Center. Contact Nurse Rep Tara tbarnes@wsna.org  this opportunity is available on a first come, first served basis and the cutoff for registration is Monday, March 23. We will provide a promo code for the recipients to use in registration. Lodging is a separate item that nurses manage individually. Check it out to learn more about what to expect at the conference, agenda, lodging details and more  Now more than ever, unions need strong leaders like you. At Leadership, you’ll learn and grow, with some costume-party fun thrown in. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues, deepen your leadership knowledge, and prepare for the challenges and victories ahead.
  
• Health Benefits We have sought a tutorial from the County for the new design and some internal tools and portals to support your access to the Teamster’s health benefits. While the County believes that printed materials sent during open enrollment are the extent of what they need to offer, we have learned that there are many questions and the need for navigation assistance with the new Teamster’s Health Plan. We have reasserted this request and inform you of the County’s response to our second request. You can find this one pager on your WSNA local unit page under featured documents and also on the County website for employees.
  
• Want to know more about what a WSNA officer does? Local unit officer nominations occur following ratification of each contract according to your local unit rules. Nurses may nominate themselves. You must be a WSNA member in good standing to be eligible for any WSNA local unit role, including officers. Come with your nomination and/or questions directly to Nurse Representative Tara Barnes at tbarnes@wsna.org.

The nomination period will end on March 3, 2026, for the following positions:

Local Unit co-chairs: this is shared role with a second co-chair to be the primary point of contact for any contractual or representational needs or questions for the Whatcom WSNA nurses.

Local unit secretary: sometimes combined with treasurer role, this officer takes notes at WSNA meetings, helps with WSNA communications to the nurses.

Local unit treasurer: sometimes combined with secretary role, this officer receives local unit funds reports from WSNA. Local unit funds are a percentage of the dues from Whatcom WSNA members that are returned to this bank. These funds are often used for reimbursement of things like special swag, T-shirts, treats, or meals for gatherings with a local unit nurse focus, Nurses Week celebrations.

Local unit grievance officer: advises the WSNA Nurse Rep on workplace issues that may or may not be a violation of the terms of your collective bargaining agreement (CBA); may also attend meetings as a resource to the local unit nurses in Investigatory meetings (any meetings that have the potential to lead to any corrective action).

Contact a local unit officer with questions or concerns:

Nicole Miller WSNA co-chair
Kai Rapaport WSNA co-chair
Lela Riherd WSNA treasurer
Julie McElroy WSNA grievance officer

Questions about this mail chimp, your WSNA contract or do you have a representational need for an investigatory meeting? Contact Nurse Rep Tara Barnes tbarnes@wsna.org.

Your WSNA local unit webpage with officers, Nurse Rep, your contract and supportive documents as well as all WSNA communications to the Whatcom nurses.