Our supervisor and staff WSNA teams met with the County on July 30. This marks the supervisors eleventh bargaining session (yes, you read that right – 11 sessions).

The ball was in the County’s court to respond to our priority proposals, including:

1. Wage scale and pay rates that recognize the years of experience of nurses across their career, as is done across the industry for other nurses in our region
2. Maintenance of reduced or free parking costs for KCCF nurses, depending on shift worked
3. The ability to grieve cases of discrimination, in common with the majority of other union contracts with the County
4. The ability to top off pay with accrued leave for parental leave provisions that align with the law
5. The ability to accrue up to 80 hours of comp time

The County had little in response to these proposals, despite being in negotiations with us for nearly 8 months.

The County’s actions are beyond disappointing and do not show the RESPECT for nurses they claim to have.

Rejection, deflection, and delay

The County rejected our proposal related to adopting a wage schedule with industry standard steps, despite our time-intensive work completed in the longevity steps workgroup in 2024. They went on to propose a 3-year contract with annual increases that would actually be less than other employees at the County. This is unacceptable! Not only is the County failing to live up to its promise to use the work done by the committee as the foundation for bargaining, it is offering substandard wage increases that do nothing to make up for its disappointing offers elsewhere.

• Longevity Steps - Working Committee: During the life of the CBA the parties will convene to study this issue for the purpose of trying to align the Employer’s wage schedule with industry standard steps. The result of this work is intended to become the foundation for the parties’ next contract negotiations.

Stop wasting our time!

While we considered some proposals, we let the County know in no uncertain terms that if they are not prepared to make substantive movement at our next scheduled session on August 11, we have no interest in meeting. 

To move the County out of their disrespectful and inefficient sluggishness, we are prepared to escalate further with our collective power!

Sign the internal WSNA petition if you have not already. We will bring to decision-makers and stakeholders very soon! 

The Seattle King County community deserves to know what is at stake and how to support the nurses in this fight for a strong, fair contract.

Share the public petition with friends, family, and neighbors. You can share the public petition QR code virtually on personal social media or pick up QR code flyers. Both of these will be available at most work sites early next week in hard-copy.

Display support placards in your rear car window. More information to come regarding how to get them.

Also,

• Next bargaining date (TENTATIVE) August 11. Let your Bargaining Team know if you wish to be an Observer during negotiations.
• Join the monthly virtual Lunch & Learn – Next meeting August 6 at 12:05 pm – 12:55 pm
• Stay informed - Read all WSNA communications and status updates from the Employer
• Engage & Participate – Watch for important updates on how to support your Bargaining Team and fight for a Fair Contract
• Provide Input/Feedback to your Bargaining Team

Your Bargaining Team,
Christopher Salatka, Local Unit Vice-Chair
Annie Roberts, Local Unit Secretary/Treasurer
Zerai Asgedom, Local Unit Grievance Officer

Questions? Contact your Bargaining Team Members or WSNA Nurse Rep Linda Burbank lburbank@wsna.org