Join us for a local unit meeting on November 15 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Conference rooms A and B. Please stay after the meeting if you are willing to contribute to an article about WSNA nurses at Central over your 50 years as union strong nurses. We would love to introduce the rest of Washington state to Confluence nurses.

Union work is so much more than grievances and contracts. Would you like to know more about union work and how you can be involved? Let’s put the U in union.

Union work can be mentorship, outreach to nursing students, community service projects, political engagement work and so much more. If you’ve ever thought, “I wish we would…” then you’re just who we’re looking for. To signal your interest in learning more about reshaping union at Confluence you can indicate your interest here https://forms.office.com/r/SM6nHw69Mw

We marked 50 years as WSNA union strong nurses at Central Washington Hospital. You became a unionized WSNA facility in April of 1973 with your first contract completed in December of 1973. Special thanks to Caryn Rumble and all of the volunteers who pulled together to put on this event.

We are excited for a united nursing community in Wenatchee, and we know the future looks bright for joint nursing advocacy.

Floating language is contained in article 6.12 of your collective bargaining agreement. There is no specific time requirement for a float to count as a float. We discussed this originally in conference committee in September and October and as of Novembers conference committee both WSNA and Confluence have agreed that a float is a float. If you are floated for five minutes, or twelve hours, this still counts as a float. Section 6.12 also speaks to double floating, “The Hospital will extend good faith efforts to ensure nurses will float no more than one time (1x) during a nurse’s shift, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the nurse and the Hospital.”

Please ensure your float is recorded properly and if you are informed that your float doesn’t “count” due to the length of time you were floated please contact as WSNA officer or your WSNA nurse representative or file an ADO.

We have received reports of nurses who have missed their vacation appointments for seniority-based requests. Section 9.2 governs seniority-based requests and rolling requests. Rolling requests are in addition to seniority-based requests. If you missed your seniority-based request appointment, secondary to patient care, please contact your nurse representative – sreed@wsna.org or call/text 206-620-4246.

“After the initial vacation selection process has been completed and vacations published, beginning November 21st, additional vacation requests can be entered into API for March 1st through February 28th (29th on leap-year) the following year. Vacation requests made in this period must be for a minimum of 5 (five) days and may not exceed twenty-one (21) days in length. The employee must also send an email to the manager indicating they have submitted a rolling vacation request including the dates requested. Requests will be made not less than two months in advance of the beginning of the schedule period for which time off is requested. Vacation requests will be granted on a first come first serve basis during this phase. The Hospital will respond to requests in through API within 14 (fourteen) days. Such requests will not be left as “pending” without the mutual consent of the hospital and the requesting RN.”

On November 7 we have filed two all affected grievances.

Pool nurse step placement – We have filed an all affected grievance on behalf of all pool nurses who have been denied step advancement inappropriately.

Staffing – We have filed an all affected grievance on behalf of SOU nurses secondary to staffing levels on SOU.

We have completed one day of arbitration pertaining to nurses who were placed on indefinite leave of absence for declining the COVID-19 vaccination with an approved medical or religious accommodation. Confluence presented its case on day one, on November 29 WSNA will present the case of these nurses to the arbitrator and Confluence. Once arguments are completed both teams will submit written briefs articulating the position of WSNA and Confluence. We do not expect a decision before quarter one of 2024.

We are currently preparing the infusion nurses located on the Mares, Omak and Moses Lake campus for bargaining with Confluence. When a new group is added to your collective bargaining agreement both WSNA and Confluence must bargain any provisions that apply directly to the nurses. This will be done in conjunction with your WSNA officers.

Mares Campus will be starting negotiations in December for their first contract.

Cascade Medical Center recently ratified their collective bargaining agreement. Key additions include a version of nurse practice committee, expansion of rights for representation, and builds on a recent large increase in wages for market competitiveness.

On October 10, Virginia Mason held an informational picket after 15 sessions at the table with management. Informational pickets are not the same as strikes. A picket is used to inform the public about issues happening in the hospital and are only utilized during a negotiation where progress on key issues is stalled or there is no movement at the table, a strike involves employees not reporting to work and also picketing the employer.

UFCW3000 represents staff at Providence Everett hospital. UFCW3000 has announced a 10-day strike to commence on November 14. As a result, you may be contacted by recruiters to take a crisis assignment to cover the nurses striking.

As nurses we wrestle with the idea of striking, we are conditioned to place patients above all other priorities, even our own physical and mental health and personal safety. When we reach the point of strike it is never an easy decision to make.

It is always the employer’s responsibility to maintain safe working conditions and adequate staffing levels. By walking out, onto the sidewalk, these union members are standing up for the safety of their hospital and the community they serve.

Local Unit Meeting – 11/15/2023 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Conference Rooms A and B

WSNA Conference Committee – 12/04/2023 3 – 3:50 p.m. – Conference Rooms A and B

Nurse Staffing Committee – 12/06/2023 – 3:30 - 4:50 p.m.* with additional meeting for December TBD – Conference Rooms F and G

We have two vacant officer roles currently, Grievance Officer and Secretary. If you’ve considered becoming more involved in the direction of union work now may be the time. Please reach out to any WSNA officer or your nurse representative to learn more.

Questions? Please contact your nurse representative Shawn Mork, RN – sreed@wsna.org.