We met with management on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, for the second day of bargaining, after management cancelled the session originally scheduled for April 17. This bargaining involves wage reopener for wages above the 4% which we secured during our last negotiations and became effective on April 1, 2023.

At the outset of the bargaining session, management acknowledged a nursing recruitment and retention problem, with at least 34 unfilled, and much needed, positions. Management acknowledged that they rely on expensive traveler nurses because of the inability to attract and retain permanent nurses. Indeed, the ER night shift is heavily staffed by traveler nurses.

Management indicated that its financial position is improving and that it wanted to offer a competitive wage package to its nurses to ensure the staffing that our community deserves. Management stressed that it values WhidbeyHealth nurses and appreciated our commitment though rough times, when management insisted on wages that we knew were insufficient, while management tried to right its ship.

So, it was with some optimism that we waited to receive management’s wage proposal, especially since we know management has allocated significant financial resources to bring a management consulting firm onboard and to improve the recruitment and retention of other staff. Now, finally would be the nurses’ turn.

Not so! Management presented us with a proposal that would result in a wage increase of 1% or less for most of the steps, with only a few steps (and very few nurses) receiving more than 2%. In fact, under management’s proposal, some very experienced and “valued” nurses would receive, literally, a hourly wage increase of a single penny!

WE HAVE OUR WORK TO DO AS WE FIGHT FOR WAGES THAT OUR NURSES AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES.

STAY TUNED AS TO HOW EACH OF YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED.

Remember to thank your bargaining team for their hard work and dedication: Luka Cobb, Laura Black, Ann Bell, and Gwen Parrick.

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