Negotiations Update
March 10, 2023

Our team met with management again on Friday, along with eight observers over the past two sessions. We remain committed to fighting for the staffing ratios and break nurses we deserve, and opened up some informal discussions about wages and our expectations of Tacoma General-level raises. We’ll be going over more details of negotiations at our Local Unit Meetings on March 14.

Send five of your coworkers our petition to MultiCare CEO

We’ve had an amazing response so far to our petition telling MultiCare leadership about the reality of our need for staffing ratios, break nurses, and fair conditions for our per diem nurses. If you’ve signed the petition, text five of your coworkers and make sure they’ve signed as well! It’s going to take all of us - even if we work on one of the better staffed units - to make this happen. If you are not able to print and sign the physical copy of the petition located on our local unit homepage, you can fill out our online form using the link below:

Good Samaritan Tower Expansion Hearing Update

MultiCare has petitioned the Department of Health to build a tower with 160 additional beds. Until MultiCare can staff the beds we have properly, we have concerns about the system adding even more beds. If you would like to submit written testimony about your experiences with staffing for the public comment on the planned expansion or testify at the hearing, please email Janet at jstewart@wsna.org. The hearing date has not yet been scheduled (the Department of Health canceled the original date, stating that it realized it needed more information from MultiCare before proceeding).

Take action to win a fair contract NOW:

1. Fill out your ADOs – we know it often seems like nothing happens and hard to remember, but it is a crucial part of proving to hospital leadership that patient outcomes and staffing are linked. On Thursday, nursing leadership told us they hadn’t seen a single ADO tied to a negative patient outcome! We need ADOs to also reflect missed breaks so we can show leadership that we need Break Nurses.
   
   
2. Wear your blue on negotiating days and Fridays! Even if you’ve been told to take off your WSNA shirt, you can still wear your blue scrubs, stickers, buttons, and WSNA badge reels. Make sure to send in your pictures to our private Facebook group: WSNA Good Sam – Union Discussion, and our Instagram @GSHnurses.
   
   
3. Come be an observer at negotiations! Our last scheduled bargaining dates are on 3/20, 3/29, and 3/30. Our contract expires on March 31 – show up NOW to make sure MultiCare is listening. Please sign up with Grace GLamonte@wsna.org.
   
   
4. Come to Local Unit Meetings – to learn about what we’re fighting for in bargaining. Join us in person or virtually on Tuesday March 14. Virtual link to the meetings will be on our private Facebook group or contact Grace if you’d like the link – glamonte@wsna.org

• 8 a.m. at MultiCare University Rooms 2A & B. 1317 East Main Street.
• 8 p.m. at Good Sam’s Gordon Conference Room.
• Coffee and Bagels provided!

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

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

Need shirts, buttons, stickers, or want to know how to get involved: contact Grace LaMonte, WSNA Organizer glamonte@wsna.org.