We met with CHI Management on 12/2/22 for our third day of contract negotiations.

CHI provided a 10-page proposal that included changes to PTO and our wages.

Management proposed some increases in wages but we are concerned that they are still too far below market wage to be able to attract new rehab nurses and keep the ones we have. The Hospital is still below other rehab units in hospitals that are located just a few miles away. Our nurses deserve fair wages for doing the same work that is completed in similar facilities. We have countered with wages that will encourage new and experienced nurses to apply and stay at Rehab.

We are encouraged that they also proposed a wage scale for new hires that has Step 20 as the new high wage step (better than the 10-year new hire wage scale that we currently have, but still caps everyone above year 20 at a “max” rate). These nurses will not get step increases as the rest of the nurses do but will receive a yearly lump sum bonus equal to $1.25 per hour worked. We don’t believe that this will encourage retention of experienced nurses and newer nurses will find work at facilities that don’t put a financial cap on their worth. We proposed eventually increasing steps up to 30, (steps 1-25 the first year and adding steps 25-30 the second year) with annual wage increases. Management proposed bringing all current nurses who would fall below their proposed wages based on the nurse’s years of experience on to the scale, which is a good development – this acknowledges our experienced nurses and prevents current nurses from being “leapfrogged” by new hires with fewer years of experience.

They proposed changes to our PTO that reduces the amount of hours you can carry over at the end of the year and requires a cash out of hours beyond the carry-over. This cash out is at 75% of the value of that PTO. We will be addressing this proposal at our next bargaining session, after we look into relevant laws around mandatory cash out.

We continue to fight for staffing ratios, and for management to acknowledge that a nurse should not be regularly assigned six (or more!) patients. We were troubled to hear that management considers six patients an acceptable number. We are also pushing to increase premiums, for additional safety within the facility, and for a stand-by/ call back system to get nurses on the floor when they are needed.

Our next meeting with Management is December 8 and we encourage you all to attend our online Local Unit Meeting on December 9. We will be there to answer questions and hear your input about negotiations.

AM meeting from 0800-0930:
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 206-485-2614,,464036269# United States, Seattle
(888) 313-0615,,464036269# United States (Toll-free)

PM meeting from 2000-2130:
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 206-485-2614,,569054792# United States, Seattle
(888) 313-0615,,569054792# United States (Toll-free)

If you have additional questions, please contact nurse rep Brenda Balogh at bbalogh@wsna.org.

In Unity,
The CHI Rehab WSNA bargaining team,
Jana Purdy RN
Anna Pyfrom RN