We met with management on March 31 for our 2nd negotiation session. We spent part of the day going through the contract section by section focusing on cleaning up and updating out of date ambiguous contract language. We worked collaboratively making contract language clearer to reflect the current environment and prevent confusion. In addition, we made significant progress cleaning up and adding our MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) and LOUs (Letter of Understanding) into our contract.

We also exchanged and reviewed our and management’s Issues and Interests, we recognized we have mutual interest in solving several issues, such as ensuring that CWH continues to have a competitive compensation package that treats nurses fairly and takes into the account the stress of the job.

Lastly, we agreed to indefinitely extend our contract with the right to let it expire with a 14-day notice by either side. We felt it was important to preserve the protections the contract provides while we continue to negotiate our contract.

We are encouraged with the IBB process again after today, we are back at the table on April 15, where we will dive more into the Issues and finish adding our LOUs and MOUs into our contract. Please wear your “I Support my Negotiations Team” stickers on April 15.

To see a video update on negotiations from Nick Jackson, RN, local unit co-chair, consider joining the local unit's private Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/centralwashingtonrns. Contact Zach Seikel, WSNA organizer, at zseikel@wsna.org if you have any questions.

If you missed our contract negotiations survey and want to share your negotiation priorities or have questions, please contact your WSNA Chair Sara Bergenholtz at Sara.Morgan.Bergenholtz@gmail.com .

Your negotiations team,
Sara Bergenholtz, Nick Jackson, Karla Bourgeois, Stefanie Gates, Amy Yarbrough, Paul Stamilio, Paul Molenaar, Blaine Wuertz and Lorna Sebastian