There has been a lot of activity since our last communication. Your officers and nurse representative have been working hard with management to advocate for you.

$500 Bonus LOU (Letter of Understanding)

WSNA has signed the LOU providing the $500 “Thank you” bonus. To see the actual LOU and download it click on the link below to read and/or download the LOU.

Double Time LOU extension

We discussed extending the Double Time LOU in Conference Committee on Sept. 27. We have agreed to extend it for another month and re-evaluate at our next CC meeting Dec. 6. Use the link below to read and/or download the LOU. There isn’t a new LOU since at the end of the LOU we have agreed to extend if mutually agreed upon.

Retention Bonus

We are currently negotiating a possible retention bonus. Management has come to us with a proposal. Our officers and Nurse Representative are working on a response. There will be more to come in the near future.

Pool Incentive LOU

We have agreed to revise the Pool Incentive MOU. Use the link below to read and/or download the LOU.

ADO (Assignment Despite Objection)

• Are you being provided the proper equipment or substandard equipment, need specialized equipment, or not trained or experienced in area assigned or to equipment?
• Are you being assigned to patients you don’t feel adequately trained to care for?
• Have you missed a meal break, one rest break, two rest breaks, three or more rest breaks? You should have a break for every 4 hours you work.
• Have you been denied Vacation, PTO, Sick, Extended illness, Education leave?

These are all reasons to fill out an ADO form. It only takes a few minutes. You can find the form by going to https://www.wsna.org/ado

WSNA Nurses Unite for Safe Staffing event

Nurses at the bedside know that staffing levels have reached crisis levels due to burnout, moral injury, and hospi­tals’ failure to take action to retain nurses. But even before the pandemic, so many of us were stretched to the limit, forced to take too many patients, and work long shifts without a break.

We need more than a quick fix – we need action to ensure safe staffing now and in the future.

The Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare invites you to join your fellow union nurses across Washington state for WSNA Nurses Unite for Safe Staffing! This free event will be held virtu­ally on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 8 – 10 a.m.

At this event you will:

• Learn about WSNA’s efforts in coali­tion with other health care unions to create account­ability with enforce­able laws and staffing standards every hospital must meet.
• Find out how you can take action to achieve safe staffing on every unit, in every hospital in Washington state and ensure that hospi­tals take every avail­able measure to ensure our commu­ni­ties receive the care they deserve.
• Hear from state and national labor leaders about how they are standing behind Washington nurses in our fight for safe staffing.

Featured speakers

• Randi Weingarten, American Feder­a­tion of Teachers (AFT) presi­dent, will discuss national labor support for safe staffing.
• Larry Brown, Washington State Labor Council presi­dent, will share how unions in Washington are working together to win safe staffing.
• April Sims, Washington State Labor Council secre­tary treasurer, will discuss safe staffing through an equity lens.
• David Keepnews, execu­tive director of WSNA, will share research supporting safe staffing and how nurses can leverage it into meaningful action.
• Julia Barcott, chair of WSNA’s Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare, will share WSNA's efforts to protect and advocate for our nurses on the frontlines.

When and where
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 8 — 10 a.m. This is a virtual online event. A link will be provided after registration.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org.