On Friday, May 12, we met with management for the 15^th bargaining session. We were hopeful for a positive response to the proposal we gave them on day #14. We had given a proposal which we felt would provide safe staffing and meal and rest breaks without relying on break buddies. We had proposed using the 2023 staffing matrices which Good Sam submitted to the Department of Health; plus a free charge, free flex, and break nurse/s in departments that don’t currently have those staff. Management entirely ignored our offer and instead offered a plan where the CFO will provide education to the staffing committee members to explain the impact of budget, hours per patient day, length of stay, productivity, incremental overtime, and position control on staffing plans and the reason these items need to be aligned. Management did propose a Break Nurse Memorandum of Understanding – but it has no accountability to make sure breaks happen without the reliance on break buddies. The solution to missed breaks would be conversations at Staffing Committee meetings – more talk with no accountability from leadership..

MultiCare upper level management has failed over and over to take us seriously. We appealed to Good Samaritan President Jim Beatty with a petition; we showed up by the hundreds at an informational picket; more than 60 nurses attended the DOH hearing on the new Good Sam Tower to express concerns about how MultiCare will adequately staff this new tower; and we met for 15 sessions trying to be heard when it comes to the desperate need for safe staffing. Management tells us they are hearing us; but they are not showing it in their actions. Looks like we need to turn up the heat.

Hey Bill, We’re Holding a Vote of No Confidence!

Do you have faith in the CEO of MultiCare Bill Robertson to put patients before profits? To appreciate nurses enough to provide safe staffing and break nurses? To stop giving us more and more to do with fewer and fewer resources? To stop experimenting with us by forcing new staffing models on us without the approval of the staffing committee as they’re supposed to do by law and by contract, or without bargaining with our union?

Last week we extended an invitation to Bill Robertson to join us for a Nurses Town Hall meeting. Bill declined the opportunity to meet with us. Instead, he said he will leave it to WSNA and MultiCare negotiations team to come to a mutually beneficial agreement. But Bill’s the one calling the shots for MultiCare and it doesn’t appear he takes us seriously nor has any intention to do the right thing. Join us Tuesday, May 16, for a Vote of No Confidence in Bill. This vote of no confidence shows MultiCare that we’re tired of a lack of transparency and are willing to escalate until we have a fair contract for our coworkers, patients, and community.

The vote will be held in the same area as our picket-sign in station was, outside the front of the hospital entrance on 15^th Ave SE and 4^th St SE. You can drive up if it’s your day off, or come out on your breaks or before/after work. We’ll be there from 0630-0930, 1100-1500, and 1700-2000. If you are unable to attend the vote on Tuesday, email GSHaction@wsna.org to request an absentee ballot. You can request an absentee ballot until Tuesday at 1700, and can submit the ballots until Tuesday at midnight. The results of the vote will be announced Wednesday via our facebook group and Instagram; and at the Thursday night sip and chat. Mailchimps may be delayed due to this week’s Washington State Nurses Convention.

Sip and Chat Thursday 8:00 p.m.

Join us for our weekly virtual Sip and Chat meeting Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.

Or call in (audio only)
+1 206-485-2614,,703492094# United States, Seattle
(888) 313-0615,,703492094# United States (Toll-free)

Next Bargaining Session is Monday, May 22

Remember to show your WSNA Team Spirit on Fridays and Bargaining days. Wear your blue scrubs, buttons, badge reels, sticker up, and get creative. Send in your pictures to our Instagram @GSHnurses to spread the union spirit! You are welcome to be a negotiations observer on May 22. Contact Grace GLamonte@wsna.org.

In solidarity, your bargaining team:
Mindy Thornton, Jared Richardson, Aaron Bradley, Raeli Korzeniecki, Dawn Morrell, Anne Landen, Ashley Eubanks, Atalia Lapkin, Erin Butler, and Paul Grantham

If you’d like to observe bargaining; want to know how you can get more involved with your union, contact Organizer Grace Lamonte GLamonte@wsna.org.

Questions/Issues, contact Janet Stewart, WSNA Nurse Representative jstewart@wsna.org.