Back at the table again on April 23

We met with management on April 18 for our fifth bargaining session. We started the day knowing that we only have two more scheduled sessions before contract expiration on April 30th. Despite hearing even more facts and realities about Overlake RNs experiences, management’s merely moderate movement was concerning, even surprising.

Wages

We again reiterated the extremely high cost of housing in Bellevue, and shared information on the excessive costs of our commutes. Overlake countered our latest wage proposal increasing its proposal by only 0.25% in the last two years (with no increase to their prior proposal in year 1). What we heard from Overlake was, “We Don’t Need to be at the Top.” What a slap in the face! We shared personal stories about how their 5% (year 1), 4.25% (year 2), and 3.25% (year 3) proposals do not cover our rising costs, and countered with our own proposal: 12%, 6.25%, and 6.25%.

Health Benefits

We could not have been clearer; we provided even more data than before that supports nurses’ experiences with increased out of pocket costs and shared hard-hitting stories submitted by nurses speaking to the real-world impacts of our health care plan on nurses’ day to day. We proposed Overlake fund employee HSAs to offset staff costs and language to restrict increasing premium and other costs for nurses.

Staffing and Break Relief

We made a comprehensive break relief proposal that protects our current break nurses and proposes additional break relief nurse positions. We have the right to meal and rest breaks on every shift, for the safety of our patients and our staff, and Overlake must follow the law. Please submit ADOs (wsna.org/ado) when you are not getting your breaks, and clock missed breaks We also made a proposal for safe staffing ratios.

Prior to today’s session, we arranged with a number of in-person observers that would also deliver their stories, allow our membership a transparent view into what negotiations is all about, and send the message to Overlake that our staff care deeply about our contract; Overlake was aware of this intention. Again, in the final hours before, Overlake staunchly objected to observers. Thank you all for participating in Blue Fridays, sharing your stories, and being involved. This is sending the message to Overlake that we are all on the same page!

Wear your WSNA shirt on Blue Fridays!

In unity,
Your negotiation team 
Chris Birchem Ortho/Spine Surgery
Cassie Bundick CCU
Caine Ballew Float Pool
Michele Percosky OPS
Kristin Barnett IPS
Stacey Alvarez ED
Melissa Santos CCU
Balla Sarr Break Relief RN