Coffee Time with your WSNA leaders - Send a postcard to MultiCare for our breaks! 

Thursday, March 6 at the Good Sam Starbucks. Times: 06:00-10:00 and 14:00-16:00

Stop by to chat with your WSNA Nurse Rep and Officers.

Grab a  beverage on us while you fill out your postcard and talk about the issues you're concerned about.

We'll be writing postcards to management demanding the break hours back which were agreed upon back in April of 2024.

WSNA T-shirts will be available for those who don't yet have one.

Highlights from the February 27 Nurse Conference Committee and Hospital Staffing Committee Meetings

Thanks to those who joined us for Virtual Sip-n-Chat last Thursday evening. We discussed highlights from the Conference Committee (Labor/Management) meeting and the Hospital Staffing Committee meetings earlier that day.  We were told that the Go Live Date for the new timeclock for breaks process will be May 4th and that training will be provided. Regarding staffing, we brought forward that we need proper staffing levels for our matrices, plus for hallway beds. Leaders are working with RMC to provide proper staffing for our units. Travelers have been hired to help fill our staffing shortages. Most should be here by mid-March.  Some nurses have been utilized as Helping Hands rather than go home on low census. Management is saying that when you float outside your clinical grouping as Helping Hands, you do not qualify for float pay if you are not taking a patient assignment. If you are assigned as a 1:1 sitter, that DOES qualify for float pay. Be sure to submit your PCFs if not properly paid. Equipment issues were discussed. Management acknowledges the need for bedside computers and computers on wheels which have been ordered for some units; but do not have an estimated date for delivery.  The issues and frustrations with the new Kaizen process were discussed as steps are being taken to improve the process. ACLS transport can help; but their major focus is on imaging transports. Keep submitting HEROs and ADOs to communicate the Kaizen issues. Workplace Safety issues were discussed. Good Sam has ordered the Evolve security system for the ED entrance. It can detect the density of metal, thus identifying weapons such as guns and knives.

At Hospital Staffing Committee Meeting we reviewed the standard agenda topics. Each department reports on its missed meal and rest breaks. The units need to be diligent about filling out the Break sheets so we can have accurate numbers to report in regard to how many breaks used break buddies, resource/flex, charge, break nurse, or were declined or missed. Departments also reported on their ADOs (Staffing Complaint Forms). They share the issues related to the ADOs and report which ADOs are resolved, and which ones are trending.

See your WSNA bulletin board in your breakroom for Meeting Minutes.

Communications Chair and Unit Reps Wanted

Are you a social media whiz? Do you want to help get the word out to nurses at Good Sam about what’s happening? Consider becoming a Communications Chair! This role has a time commitment of 1-2 hours a month involving posting on social media, helping send out messages on Hustle text software, and keeping your coworkers in the loop about upcoming union actions.

Additionally, we need to ramp up our list of union unit reps. You are the ones to help keep your unit informed of union actions; update the union boards; point people in the right direction to find the contract and union leadership; and let union leaders know the issues on your units.

Reach out to Nurse Rep Janet at jstewart@wsna.org if you’re interested in this role!

Blue Fridays - Show Your Union Spirit

Continue showing your Union Spirit by wearing your WSNA Blue T-Shirts on Fridays. If you don't work Fridays, then wear them on a different day. Take a photo and post on our Facebook group or our Instagram, @gshnurses. If you need a shirt, contact Ilia Mondoy at mondoyit@gmail.com.

Break Nurse Arbitration Update

MultiCare Good Samaritan violated the contract by pausing the break nurse plan, resulting in a lack of adequate break coverage over the past several months, forcing nurses to rely heavily on break buddies in order to receive their meal and rest breaks. Per the contract, break buddies are not to be used more than 20% of the time. 
This grievance is on its way to Arbitration. An arbitrator has been selected, and we are in the process of finding a mutually agreeable date for the hearing. Along with the grievance and arbitration process, you can continue to put pressure on MultiCare by accurately reporting missed breaks.

Thank you for submitting your break related ADOs. Keep them coming.  wsna.org/ado

Consecutive Weekend Pay Grievance Update

The Consecutive Weekend Arbitration took place on February 20-21. The background on this issue is that for many years, Good Sam paid CWW  at 1.5X pay for nurses who picked up extra weekend shifts (with the exception of trades and those who work every weekend). In the Spring of 2024, Good Sam stopped this practice, saying that it was being applied differently throughout the hospital and that they NOW believe the contract excludes voluntary pick-up shifts for CWW. The contract language has NOT changed since 2007.  Nurses are to receive Consecutive Weekend Premium on their scheduled weekends off.

Thanks so much to the nurses who gave their testimonies. We could not have done it without you. It may take up to 4 months to receive the Arbitrator's ruling.

We will keep you updated about the outcome of this Arbitration.

Healthy at Work Grievance Update

WSNA filed a grievance against MultiCare for not providing the Healthy at Work Program and thus not allowing nurses the opportunity to receive the $30 month discount on your health premium. WSNA will be taking this case to Arbitration.  We'll update you as we move closer to an Arbitration date.

Your Good Samaritan Officers,

Ilia Mondoy, Raeli Korzeniecki, Mindy Thornton, Aaron Bradley, Atalia Lapkin, Ryan Dixon  https://www.wsna.org/union/good-samaritan-hospital

WSNA Organizer Grace LaMonte GLamonte@wsna.org

WSNA Nurse Rep Janet Stewart Jstewart@wsna.org

Know a coworker who isn’t in our union at Good Sam, or a nurse who doesn’t have a union where they work? Reach out to organize@wsna.org and an organizer will reach out to you!