After Confluence Staff and Wenatchee Community Rally to Support Fair Contract for Nurses

After 12 bargaining sessions with the employer, we reached a Tentative Agreement which includes some historic gains. Due to the powerful voices of our nurses, Confluence colleagues and community members, our team was able to move management on key issues at the table.

We will have a detailed summary of the Tentative Agreement out tomorrow.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Wage increases of 10% (2025), 3% (2026) and 3% (2027) PLUS a signing bonus of $1000 for all nurses regardless of FTE PLUS Elimination of ALL “ghost” steps.  This is HUGE, there are many nurses who are at “ghost” steps.  Elimination of these steps will result in those nurses receiving more than a 10% wage increase.  Management did not agree to retro pay, but we did get them to agree to the signing bonus. Further, we were able to elevate the first-year percentage wage increase in a way that far outweighs the value of a one-time, lump sum payment (such as which retro) because it is built into the base salary and compounds FOREVER. Further, we eliminated every ghost step which is a big cost to employer in the first year. The ghost steps currently affect 42% of our bargaining unit and some of our most tenured nurses.
• Resident nurses are now part of the bargaining unit.  Management had resisted this for years.
• New language requiring the Employer to make a good faith effort to assign break relief nurses.
• Moving away from a flat dollar limit on insurance premium increases to a percentage limit because it is more equitable as nurses pay different premiums based on FTE and number of dependents.  Mgt. initially proposed that there be no limit on premium increases.  We agreed upon a reasonable maximum increase of 7.5% per year with Confluence picking up their share of any premium increase.
• Pool nurses will receive step increases after they work more than 1275 hours.
• Preceptor Pay for precepting nursing students.
• Pool nurse differentials now 15% (previously 6 or 12%)
• Float premium $4 (previously $3)
• Weekend pay $4 (previously $3.75)
• Nurses who have two certifications and one education degree will receive $3 instead of $2.
• Campus Flex Nurse – more info to come!
• Retired Pool nurses will receive the same incentive bonus for picking up shifts as other nurses.

An Invitation to Come Together, Chat with Our Team, Ask Questions and Get Involved

8/15- Friday Virtual meeting via Teams 1900 

8/20 In person drop in meetings 0700-1700  Conference Room A

 Full redline summary will be available for you to read prior to your vote

Tomorrow we will be posting an official TA summary with a vote date and procedure. Good news! We are using an electronic voting process now to better accommodate nurses in their schedules and work life balance! More info on this to come. If you are a member, you are eligible to vote.

Are you a member? Let’s make sure! Please text our Organizer Ryan Rosenkranz at 206-867-4627.