Happy May Day, Seattle Children’s Nurses! We’re thrilled to announce the exciting launch of our WSNA contract negotiation for summer 2025.

This spring, your officer group has been hard at work, sifting through your survey feedback to identify our key priorities as we prepare to hit the negotiation table. If you have not completed your survey, it’s not too late. We’ve also been overjoyed and a bit overwhelmed by the amazing interest in joining our WSNA negotiating team. With nearly 2,200 nurses in our bargaining unit, we knew it was crucial to assemble a diverse team that truly represents all of you. We’re proud to share that our negotiation team has grown to an all-time high of 17 passionate nurses! Together with our officer group, this incredible team is committed to making sure your voices are heard and your insights are valued across every shift and work area.

Below, you’ll find all the details about the 2025 SCH WSNA Negotiation Team. Take a moment to see who’s near you at work, and don’t forget to say hello and thank them for stepping up! And for those of you on smaller teams or in remote areas outside Seattle, please keep in touch with Kara Yates or Annika Hoogestraat, our dedicated co-chairs from the officer group.

Let’s make this negotiation season impactful together!

• Kara Yates, RN BSN CPN (Medical/Days) ‘I’ve been a nurse at SCH for 15 years. This is my fifth set of negotiations and my second set as the co-chair. I believe strongly in using our power as a union to get the working conditions we need to protect ourselves and the wages we need to recruit and retain great nurses, both of which lead, most importantly, to the great care we all know our patients deserve and that we would want our own family members to get!’ Kara.e.yates@gmail.com
  
• Annika Hoogestraat, RN BSN CCRN IBCLC (CCFP/ACE/Days) ‘As a mother and a nurse, I bring the perspective of balancing the demands of patient care with the realities of family life. My commitment to advocating for fair wages, safe staffing levels, and improved working conditions is driven by a desire to ensure that all nurses can provide the highest quality of care while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. All of our work as nurses puzzle piece together to provide the best care for our patients, and I am committed to all of us in the advocacy for a contract that attracts and retains valuable nurses to our organization. I’m here for you and you’re here for me. Let’s do this together!’ ahoogest@gmail.com
  
• Lindsey Kirsch, RN BSN CPEN BA (Urgent Care/Evenings) ‘My advocacy work started when I was a 7 year old. I fought to have a law voted down. My sibs and I won single handedly. I am extremely passionate about advocating for those who do not have a voice, the opportunity to stand up or the strength to battle the struggles and protect their rights. It is truly important to me that our nurses are awarded a contract which delivers on the respect we deserve, the wages to retain and recruit great nurses, and the protections we need to deliver the stellar care our patients deserve.  It is with great honor that I represent you at the table. ‘ lindseykirsch@earthlink.net
  
• Samantha Forte, RN BSN (OR Main/Days & Evenings) ‘I’m excited to be bargaining for our contract this summer. It’ll be my third contract. I’m proud to have worked for Seattle Children’s for almost 14 years and proud to have been a grievance officer for the past six. I love advocating for my patients and my peers. I also love my cat, sewing, wine, video games and reality TV. In no particular order.’ Samantha.r.lake@gmail.com
  
• Katie Podobnik, RN BSN (Ambulatory Plastic Surgery/Days) ‘I'm a fairly new nurse who came to the profession during Covid. I care deeply about elevating this role and the people who have chosen to spend their lives in patient care. My biggest hope is that my young children grow up and can confidently say that their Mama made a difference for the better!’ Knight.r.Kathryn@gmail.com
  
• AJ Nagal, RN BSN (CCFP/Nights) ‘I joined as a grievance officer because I wanted to support and advocate for my peers. Feel free to reach out to me for anything at all!’ ajonagal@gmail.com
  
• Therese Hill, RN BSN (CCFP/Days) ‘I am passionate about social justice, I believe all things are possible with the appreciation of one another. I have been a nurse for over 25 years and have traveled during that time and received different perspectives on medicine and healthcare in general.  As a nurse, I feel it’s my duty to serve our community to the best of my ability. I have seen many changes over the years and see the realities of our front line staff. I think it’s important to have a voice for one another and to do that I felt it was necessary to understand how to best affect policies and practices that shift the system’s inequities. Joining the last negotiations was a great inspiration to do more as healthcare is political and to heal, we need to challenge our surroundings to provide safe, supportive, healthy environments to grow and prosper. My values include empathy and compassion. Live a little and grow a lot! Add some flavor and savor the spice.’ theresehill@yahoo.com
  
• Emma Gordon, RN BSN (Ambulatory Orthopedics/Days) ‘I have worked at Seattle Children’s a little over 8 years. I worked in the PICU for 6 years and switched over to Ambulatory Orthopedics 2 years ago. I am new to being a union officer for our union, and am excited about working with all of the incredible nurses at Children’s to ensure we can provide the best care to our patients. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two kids. We love to bike, paddle board, and watch all of the Seattle sports teams!’ Emmacorygordon@gmail.com
  
• Kelsey Gellner, RN BSN (Urgent Care/Evenings) ‘Hi friends, I’m Kelsey Gellner. I’m the WSNA SCH Social Media Officer and a WSNA Board of Director. If you’ve ever DM’d our Instagram, chances are pretty good it’s me you’re talking to. I’ve been at Children’s for the past 5 years working on RC6, PICU, and recently switching to Urgent Care. I also have experience working in adult Med Surg/ER, and research. 6 of my 7 years of nursing were night shift before switching to evenings. Besides nursing, my two boys keep me busy. I’m very passionate about advocating for the well-being of nurses and parents and am looking forward to advocating for our bargaining unit in negotiations.’ Kelseygellner@gmail.com
  
• Sarah Munro, RN BSN (BSC/Days) ‘I'm a unit rep and also on the Housewide Staffing Committee.’ S4R4HMUNRO@gmail.com
  
• Bree Casas, RN BSN (PBMU/Days) ‘Passionate about the intersection of physical health and mental health.’ bcasasrn@gmail.com
  
• Lauren Lustyk, RN BSN CPN (Surgical/Nights) ‘I am so excited to be a part of bargaining! I've worked at Children's for almost 9 years and know that our incredible nurses deserve the best contract! When I'm not working nights, I'm often walking my Aussie, rain or shine!’ Ishaml@spu.edu
  
• Jon McAferty, RN BSN CPN (ED/Days) ‘My name is Jon and I have worked in many RN roles over the years at SCH. I worked on the RC5 Surgical Unit, within NPD, and most recently as a staff RN in the Emergency Department. I am excited to bring ED representation to the table since our work environment tends to be pretty different than many other areas. I am passionate about advocating for fair compensation for nurses, ensuring we have the staff, supplies, and support to provide the best care at work, and fighting for contract protections to improve work life balance.  When I'm not at work, I enjoy hiking, board games, house projects, and hanging out with my wife and son.’ jmcaferty@gmail.com
  
• Ann Marie Fountain, RN BSN (Medical/Days) ‘I’ve been to 32 national parks, I have 2 cats, I recently got into cycling, I love to read and I have recently perfected my chocolate chip cookie recipe!’ annemariefantain@gmail.com
  
• Regan Halom, RN BSN CPN (Surgical/Days) ‘I'm very excited to get to represent my fellow nurses in the upcoming contract negotiations and work with a strong team of officers and other nurses to get us the best contract possible.  I've been an RN for 7 years and worked in several different systems.  That knowledge goes with me into negotiations.’ regansmith1978@gmail.com
  
• Lori Hall, RN BSN (ACFP/Days) ‘I am a bit addicted to hiking! Being in the woods and challenging myself brings me great joy.’ Lori.munro@ymail.com
  
• Cody Ian, RN MSN CCRN (Critical Care Transport Team/Days) ‘If health wasn't a concern, I would eat a Costco sized apple pie by myself, in one sitting. I cannot confirm nor deny if this has already happened.’ ian.codyb@gmail.com
  
• Jennifer Robbins, Chief Negotiator and Labor Counsel representing WSNA
  
• Linda Burbank, WSNA Nurse Representative
  
• Crystal Doll, WSNA Organizer

Additional contact information for your officer group can be found on your WSNA webpage.

https://www.wsna.org/union/seattle-childrens-hospital

We would like to include a shout-out to the incredible nurses who showed enthusiasm for joining the negotiation team! While we couldn’t select everyone this time, the level of interest was fantastic, and we encourage you to dive into the many opportunities available to engage, get involved, and represent your fellow colleagues as negotiations unfold.

Mark Your Calendars for WSNA Negotiation Summer 2025! 

**Nurses Week Gifts:** Get ready for some exciting swag because “You get a bandana! You get a bandana! You get a bandana!” That’s right – all bargaining unit nurses will receive WSNA bandanas at the start of May. Stay tuned and follow @sch_wsna on Instagram for the latest updates on how to snag yours. You will be notified via email as well.

**First Day of Negotiations:** Wednesday, May 28, marks our first negotiation day with the hospital, and it’s also the launch of our “On Wednesdays, we wear BLUE” campaign. Wear any blue gear or your WSNA swag, including that snazzy bandana, to show your support for our negotiation team. Let’s wear blue every Wednesday until we achieve a ratified contract. It’s a fantastic way to showcase our unity and pride in each other!

**Introducing the WSNA Steward Program:** We’re thrilled to announce a new Steward program designed to empower union-engaged or union-interested nurses! Stewards will serve as the eyes, ears, and contract experts in their work areas. With WSNA training this summer, these Stewards will be your go-to for any contract-related questions and will act as liaisons to our officer group. Did you know our officers are all volunteers who are practicing nurses just like you? Let’s spread our representation even further. If becoming a Steward sounds exciting to you, reach out to our WSNA Organizer, Crystal Doll at cdoll@wsna.org.

**Join Us as Negotiation Observers:** We're inviting nurses covered by the contract to step up as Negotiation Observers. This is your chance to get an insider’s view of the negotiation process with hospital leadership, participate in team discussions, and witness the advocacy efforts on behalf of our nurses and patients. Your voice matters, and we’d love to have you on board! If you’re interested in being an observer, please contact our WSNA Organizer, Crystal Doll at cdoll@wsna.org.

**Let’s Connect!** Get ready for our meet-ups every other Friday starting June 6. Join us at Magnuson Café & Brewery at 6 PM, where members from your officer group and fellow nurses from our bargaining unit will gather. Come for updates, share your experiences, and connect with your fellow union nurses.

**Upcoming Town Hall:** Stay tuned for more details on our Town Hall sessions. Look for information in your email and on our Instagram (@sch_wsna) for early summer dates and times. We’ll dive into negotiation insights and create space for all your questions. We’re eyeing late June or early July for this informative gathering.

Let’s gear up for an exciting summer of negotiation and engagement. Your involvement makes all the difference!

Questions? Contact your Local Unit Officers or WSNA Nurse Representative, Linda Burbank, at lburbank@wsna.org or via telephone at (206) 575-7979 ext. 3131.