Dear WSNA bargaining unit members at Good Samaritan Hospital:

During these challenging times during the COVID pandemic, WSNA is working to stay on top of all developments, including MultiCare’s newly announced COVID policy which, among other things, requires nurses to be vaccinated or apply for an exemption/accommodation based on CDC Approved Medical Reasons; or Religious/Strongly Held Personal Beliefs. MultiCare did not bargain with WSNA prior to announcing this policy. Since this policy involves hours, wages or working conditions, it is a mandatory subject of bargaining. MultiCare cannot just implement this policy without first bargaining with WSNA.

There are many components to this announced policy, and nurses deserve to have their input heard. Thus, we have sent a demand to bargain involving all aspects of the Employer’s announced changes regarding its COVID measures, just as we would if MultiCare suddenly announced any other big change in working conditions.

WSNA strongly encourages nurses to be vaccinated.

We will send more information to our members as it becomes available.

Please email me your questions/concerns ASAP that you’d like taken into consideration as we bargain the conditions of this mandate.

See WSNA’s COVID-19 Vaccine & Variant FAQ at https://www.wsna.org/

Thank you, Janet Stewart, WSNA Nurse Rep jstewart@wsna.org

In the news:

Union statement on vaccination requirement for health care workers

Seattle, Wash.— The Washington State Nurses Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and UFCW 21 issued the following joint statement on COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health care workers:

“As unions representing nurses and health care workers in Washington state, the Washington State Nurses Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and UFCW21 support science-based public health directives on COVID-19 vaccination requirements for frontline health care workers, with medical and religious exemptions. We stand firmly behind vaccination as the best way to save the lives of patients, family members and members of our communities.

At the same time, we fully expect employers to bargain with us over this change to working conditions.

We are facing an extraordinary staffing crisis in our hospitals and continue to advocate for reasonable deadlines and options for frequent testing as well as masking, as required in all health care facilities, for those who are unvaccinated. These provisions mirror those included in mandates in other states that allow health care workers to stay on the job caring for all of us through this ongoing crisis.

We also know that while the vaccines are incredibly effective, they do not replace PPE, universal masking or other infection control measures. We will continue to demand universal access to N95 masks and push employers to improve ventilation in facilities where needed.”

Inslee announces vaccination requirement for most state employees, private health care and long -term care workers

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced a requirement for most state workers, and on-site contractors and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. State employees and workers in private health care and long-term care settings will have until October 18 to be fully vaccinated.

The requirement applies to state workers, regardless of teleworking status. This applies to executive cabinet agencies, but the governor encouraged all others such as higher education, local governments, the legislative branch, other statewide elected officials and organizations in the private sector to do the same.

“It is the mission of public servants and those providing health care to serve our fellow Washingtonians. These workers live in every community in our state, working together and with the public every day to deliver services,” Inslee said. “We have a duty to protect them from the virus, they have the right to be protected, and the communities they serve and live in deserve protection as well.”

Read more here: https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-announces-vaccination-requirement-for-most-state-employees-private-health-care-and-7c765161cbb6

Governor’s FAQ on the vaccine mandate https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Vax%20Mandate%20FAQ.pdf