WSNA Nurse Representative Janet Stewart will be transitioning out to represent different WSNA facilities, SJMC Tacoma and St. Clare Hospital.

Janet would like to say that it has been a pleasure getting to know and represent the Good Sam nurses over the past 4 years. You will be missed. You have stepped up in your union advocacy over the past few years; keep it going strong as the upcoming contract bargaining is not far away.

Please welcome WSNA Nurse Representative Travis Elmore, BSN, RN, RN-BC back to Good Samaritan. Travis was your Nurse Rep during your 2020 contract negotiations.

Travis has a wealth of experience and knowledge and has a strong background in legislative advocacy.  He will be a strong presence for WSNA members.

Travis can be reached at telmore@wsna.org  (206) 575-7979 extension 3117.

Inpatient Rehab Unit Reallocations 

WSNA received our response from management regarding the issues we brought forward from our Impact Bargaining session on June 26th.

None of our recommendations were accepted. As several nurses expressed the difficulty or inability to change from 8 to 12 hour shifts, we had advocated for 8 hour Flex Nurse positions and 8 hour Break Nurse positions. They also rejected adding more 0.6 NOC positions, as that's where there was a lot of competition.

WSNA will follow through with a Grievance, citing changing to 12 hour shifts needs to be optional and by mutual agreement between the nurse and the employer.

If you are affected negatively by this change, please contact your WSNA Nurse Representative.

Break Nurse Grievance/Arbitration

The fight continues to get our Full Break Nurse Hours.  Multicare Good Samariitan violated the contract nearly a year ago, by pausing the break nurse plan, resulting in a lack of adequate break coverage.  Also, when nurses are forced to use break buddies, that puts you over matrix, which is a violation.  Per the contract, break buddies are not to be used more than 20% of the time.  The dates of September 23-24 are set for Arbitration. Continue to let us know when you miss breaks or have to use break buddies by filling out the ADO Staffing Complaint Forms at wsna.org/ado.

Consecutive Weekend Grievance/Arbitration

The CWW arbitration took place on February 20-21. The background on this issues is that for many years, Good Sam paid CWW at 1.5X pay for nurses who picked up extra weekend shifts (with the exception of trades and those who work every weekend). In the Spring of 2024, Good Sam stopped this practice, saying that it was being applied differently throughout the hospital and that they now believe the contract excludes voluntary pick-up shifts for CWW. The contract language has not changed since 2007.   We are waiting for the Arbitrator's ruling. We will keep you updated on the outcome of this Arbitration.

Healthy at Work Grievance/Arbitration

WSNA filed a grievance against Multicare for not providing the Healthy at Work Program and thus not allowing nurses the opportunity to receive the $30 month discount on your health premium. We are waiting for an Arbitration date. In addition, WSNA filed a ULP (Unfair Labor Practice) against the hospital for failure to bargain this change in working conditions.

Seeking Union Leaders. We are Stronger Together. 

We are looking for union leadership: Unit Representatives, Grievance Officers, New Hire Represenatives.  Contact us if you'd like more information about these roles. Training will be provided. More unit rep trainings to be announced.

Your Good Samaritan Officers,

Ilia Mondoy, Mindy Thornton, Aaron Bradley, Atalia Lapkin  

 WSNA Organizer Grace LaMonte GLamonte@wsna.org

WSNA Nurse Rep Travis Elmore TElmore@wsna org  206-575-7979 x 3117

Know a coworker who isn’t in our union at Good Sam, or a nurse who doesn’t have a union where they work? Reach out to organize@wsna.org and an organizer will reach out to you!