Officer nominations are now open!

Please use the link to nominate yourself or your coworkers for WSNA officer positions. Nominations will close on March 11, 2024.

Committee Updates

Conference Committee (2/19/2024)

 We are currently discussing temporary pool positions which have been filled for more than six months. Temporary positions that have exceeded this time frame can no longer be temporary and per article 6.8.1 of your collective bargaining agreement:

“Management will review the temporary position(s) at the end of the six (6) month period, and if the position is to continue indefinitely, will post the position as a “permanent position” opening. Temporary positions that become permanent may not be merely awarded to the “incumbent” without posting.”

We have requested a side-by-side comparison of healthcare plans from last year to this year. We have been informed that the books have not been printed as of the time of request.

We addressed concerns brought forward by pool nurses who had marked they were available for a holiday but were not worked or scheduled. Your WSNA grievance officer Brittney Lamb, and fellow pool nurses have advocated for these nurses to be credited. If we are unable to reach resolution, we will proceed to ensure nurses are compensated to the terms of the contract.

Thank you to Christy Monnot and Simon Morton for volunteering to represent for health and retirement benefit committees.

Nurse Staffing Committee (2/19/2024)

We’ve got our work cut out for us. The new staffing law gives your nurse staffing committee a very short timeline to prepare staffing plans and a new charter. Your WSNA NSC representatives are as listed:

Co-Chair – Simon Morton
OR/GI/Cath Lab – Maddie Orr/Open alternate
PCU – Open
MOU – Karen Doiron/Open alternate
ICU – Daniel Myers/Isaiah Ray
ER – Brittney Lamb/Jessica Culbertson
Peds/NICU – Peggy Griffith/Tina Thompson
Labor and Delivery – Ashley Mulanax/Michelle Barker
ACU – Jaylene Spitler/Open alternate
Resource – Open
Case Management – Maria Soto/Open

If you are interested in serving as a nurse staffing committee representative and are a member in good standing, please reach out to Simon Morton, WSNA nurse staffing co-chair.

Updates – Grievances and Arbitration

Pool nurses step grievance was argued, we are holding timeline currently for a settlement discussion. If we are unable to reach a settlement for this grievance, we will continue by week of 3/11 in grievance presentation. (Pending Confluence availability.)

SOU staffing grievance was argued, WSNA membership officer, and nurse staffing co-chair Simon Morton was present as we detailed the impact nurses and patients with the current workload demands.

Day two of the arbitration for nurses who were placed on unpaid leave of absence after being granted accommodation for religious or medical reasons was conducted in Wenatchee on 2/21/2024.

WSNA council presented the union’s position on this grievance. Briefs (written arguments) must be filed with the arbitrator by Confluence and WSNA by April 26, 2024.

We expect no decisions from the arbitrator for approximately three months after briefs are submitted and will update you once we have the ruling from the arbitrator.

Changes to L&I

As of January 1, 2024, registered nurses who work for Washington State will now qualify for PTSD L&I benefits and compensation under L&I.

For information about mental health and the workplace from L&I you can visit this site: https://lni.wa.gov/safety-health/safety-topics/topics/mental-health-in-the-workplace

As a WSNA member you are also entitled to AFT trauma counseling. You can learn more about your benefits to this service through AFT here: Trauma Counseling Programs and Services | American Federation of Teachers (aft.org)

Staffing Incentives

We have approached and will continue to advocate for staffing incentives, however at this time we have been informed by Confluence that they do not have a desire or see a need to offer incentives above what is contractually offered through your collective bargaining agreement.

Upcoming Events

Central – Nurse Staffing Committee and Conference Committee March 18.
Mares – Negotiation session 8 on February 29, 2024

Important legislative priorities to watch: 
ARNP PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT PARITY 
SB 5373 / HB 1495
KEEP OUR CARE ACT 
SB 5241 / HB 1263

For more information on WSNA 2024 legislative priorities visit: Legislative session - WSNA

Questions?

Contact your nurse representative Shawn Mork, sreed@wsna.org or 206-620-4246.