Our team had scheduled their day as any other, meeting at 8 a.m. and expecting to meet with management around 9:30. We were notified by the employer, at the last minute the evening before, that they would not be ready to meet until 1:30 p.m. They gave no further movement regarding their financial package, which remains a 0% wage increase and a one-year contract.

The contract expired yesterday, March 31. Since WhidbeyHealth is a public entity, we are covered by an "Evergreen year" concept. This means the contract automatically renews (rolls over) for one year. Therefore, all your rights and benefits remain intact.

We have pushed hard at each negotiation session to get language in the contract for successorship. Our proposal would offer protection for the bargaining unit if the hospital were ever purchased by another entity. That purchaser would be required to work with the union and keep the collective bargaining agreement. We continue to press on this important issue.

PTO donations reminder: We are counting on your help since every negotiation session we attend is unpaid. Our only options are to use our PTO or take No Pay to attend negotiations. Please support your team and donate. Per the agreement, one hour is the minimum you can donate. Thanks to those who have already made donations!

Will you be a PTO donation ambassador? Local Unit Chair Gwen Parrick reports that she hasn't heard from anyone regarding acting as an ambassador. If you are interested, contact her at gwensparrick@hotmail.com.

Also, the unit that raises the most PTO hours will get a prize (based on donations by unit/number of nurses, so smaller units have a just as good a shot at winning)!

Join your negotiation team members and co-workers at the Town Hall Meeting tonight, April 1:

Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Educ Conf Rooms A-B

In solidarity!

Gwen Parrick, RN, Quality, Local Unit Chair/ Jeremy Aaron, RN, Home Hospice, Local Unit Grievance Officer/ Laura Black, RN, Med Surg, Local Unit Grievance Officer/ Doreen Painter; RN, ED/ Jessica Shaffer, RN, ED/ Lucylyn Sinette, RN, Med Surg/ Michael Aube, RN, OR/ Sarah Clark, RN, OR/ Mary Meek, RN, Home Health/ Luka Cobb, RN, Home Hospice/ Bonnie Garcia, RN, PACU/ Ann Bell, RN, PACU/ Terri Williams, MS, RN, WSNA Nurse Rep (twilliams@wsna.org)/ Danielle Franco-Malone, Legal Counsel for WSNA