Your WSNA bargaining team met with management’s representatives on Tuesday for our 21^st day of negotiations.

While we reached more agreements this session than we did at our last meeting, management still refuses to pay Mares nurses the same matching rates their peers at Central earn. Management has called this issue “a line in the sand” and argued that it would be unfair to Central nurses if the Mares contract had complete pay parity because some units at Mares are not open overnight on weekends. That shows management clearly does not respect the work our bargaining unit does in Medical/Surgical Department on the third floor or in the Emergency Department, both of which are open overnight and, on the weekends, just like the same departments at Central.  At previous sessions, management has gone even further, saying that Mares nurses could have participated in the 403(b) if they had accreted into the Central contract in July 2023 but that they would not agree to let us join the 403(b) after we chose to become our own bargaining unit. We have told management in no uncertain terms: we will not agree to a flex nurse position that asks Mares nurses to work alongside Central nurses who are earning more than them for identical work.

We are not giving up on this issue, and your support will help us continue the fight for truly equal compensation. Become a member of our bargaining unit today to show management we are all in this together.

Though retirement remains a sticking point, we were able to reach new tentative agreements on the following issues:

1. Personnel Vacancies
2. Floating rules
3. Step Increases
4. Recognition for Past Practice
5. Preceptors
6. Mileage Reimbursement
7. Incentive Bonus Program
8. Extended Illness Benefits
9. Use of Paid Leave on Holidays
10. Nurses Working in a Department that is closed on a Holiday.
11. Conference Committee
12. Nurse Practice Committee
13. Bi-Lingual Stipend.

This means we have reached tentative agreements on 143 articles with only 60 remaining open!

Mares Family Photo Raffle contest!

We want to take some time and remind ourselves why we are here. The nurses at Mares are a family and stand together for a fair contract addressing the issues important to them. Let’s have some fun! Send in pictures of your kids, pets and coworkers! We heard there is a Mares nurse with 4 Frenchie’s and a kiddo wearing a WSNA t shirt?

3 $50 Pybus bucks to give away! Please send your photos to mares@wsna.org.

Join WSNA as a voting member!

We are on the sprint portion of our marathon to get a 1st contract for the nurses at Mares. Once we reach a full tentative agreement with management it will be time to plan our ratification vote! Get ready now and sign up to become an eligible voting member today! If you have questions or want information on the many benefits to membership reach out to WSNA Organizer Jenny Galassi, 206-707-2948.

In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining team
Chris Gallup, OR, Co-Chair
Marshall Snoddy, OR, Co-Chair
Megan Baute, GI, Secretary
Caitlin Orange, GI, Treasurer
Mateo Maestas, OR, Grievance Officer
Rochelle Mason, ED, Membership Officer
Waikele Frantz, Rehab/ Medsurg, Unit Liaison

Questions/Concerns Contact Laurie Robinson, WSNA Nurse Representative, 206-620-4136,  lrobinson@wsna.org.

For more information on how you can get involved contact Jenny Galassi, Nurse Organizer, 206-707-2948, jgalassi@wsna.org.