We are reading the ADO Staffing complaint forms coming in daily and recognize the severe short staffing issues taking place throughout the hospital.

The union leaders have been bringing this issue to hospital leadership at the monthly Hospital Staffing Committee Meeting each month; but there is no promise that National Common Spirit will fill our staffing vacancies.

WSNA filed a Union Group Grievance on the violations against our Safe Staffing Contract language:

• Failure to meet the staffing matrices which were submitted to the Department of Health
• Pulling charge nurses and break nurses to take patient assignments
• Failure to provide sufficient meal and rest break coverage; thus, forcing the use of break buddies
• Failure to hire and post FTEs for vacated nursing positions
• Forced mandatory overtime due to staffing shortages

WSNA has filed a Cease and Desist and Grievance for non-contractual Mandatory OT/Mandatory Call in the PACUs.

What can you do?

• Wear our newly created "No Skeleton Crews" stickers every day that you are understaffed. We're getting them out on the WSNA union bulletin boards.  If management tells you not to wear them; then ask if wearing it could lead to disciplinary action. If they say No, then continue to wear your stickers proudly. It is your protected, concerted right to wear these stickers under the rules of the National Labor Relations Board. If management say Yes, then remove the sticker and notify your WSNA Nurse Representative.
• If you need more stickers, notify JStewart@wsna.org
• Continue to submit ADOs for staffing violations  https://www.wsna.org/union/ado

Break Buddy QR Codes to monitor break buddy usage

Break buddy usage has been under-reported. We encourage you to use the Break Buddy QR Code to fill out a very brief report on either you being utilized as a break buddy or having your break covered by a break buddy.  We can't stop the over usage of break buddies if it is not being reported.

Break Buddy QR Code stickers are located on the WSNA bulletin boards in each breakroom. Take one and put it on the back of your WSNA badge buddy.

You may also find the Break Buddy QR code or the form here:

Cafeteria Time - Wednesday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Stop by the cafeteria to chat with your WSNA Nurse Representative and Officers. We'll be announcing the next Action in our Safe Staffing/No Skeleton Crews Campaign.

Enter to win a $25 Gift card for stopping by.

WSNA Union Leadership Conference

Level up your skills, your knowledge, and your power at WSNA’s 2026 Union Leadership Conference April 26–28, 2026 at the Wenatchee Convention Center.

Find out more here:  https://www.wsna.org/calendar/event/865479/union-leadership-conference-2026

Let one of your union officers or WSNA Nurse Rep know if you are interested in a scholarship to attend.

Find your WSNA Contract and Leadership contacts here:  https://www.wsna.org/union/st-joseph-medical-center

Co-Chair Carina Price, ICU
Co-Chair Jessica Lenczycki, FBC
Secretary Shannon Suchland, Walters Day Surgery
Grievance Officer Yunna Flenord, ICU
Membership Officer Teresa Kindell, 2 South MS

WSNA Nurse Representative Janet Stewart  JStewart@wsna.org