We met on Monday April 17 for our 12^th bargaining session. The biggest open issues at the table are about Safer Staffing and Break Nurses. We are still waiting for management to respond to our proposal that would address both.

The federal mediator will be with us on Monday, April 24. We truly hope that management will come with a staffing and break proposal that answers many of our concerns (one that takes the voices of bedside nurses seriously). We are making plans to go through the night if there is truly hope of getting the contract done. If not, we’ll go back to the table after the picket on Wednesday, April 26, and after the April 28 DOH hearing on the proposed tower.

We, our patients, and our community deserve better.

Gearing Up for our Picket!

Picket Sign Making Parties on 4/20, 4/21

On April 20 and 21, we’ll be at the Puyallup public library to make some signs for our info picket! We’ll have all the supplies there, but feel free to bring your own. If you’re unable to make it to the picket, this is a great way to help support us!

4/20: Puyallup Library North Meeting Room, 12:30-2 p.m.
4/21: Puyallup Library North Meeting Room, 4-7 p.m.
Puyallup Public Library location is 324 S. Meridian

If you can’t make it to either of these, there will be lots of signs to hold at the picket! Here are some do’s and don’ts for picket signs:

DO write your sign in LARGE print so it can be easily read from afar
DO raise issues that matter to nurses
DO Focus on patient safety and our community

DON’T Make threats
DON’T Use foul language (we know it might be warranted, but we have kids and press at pickets!)
DON’T Directly state that current staffing is unsafe or current conditions are dangerous

Get our Community Involved!

We’re picketing because we know our community deserves the best care we can give. Our fight for a fair contract impacts every resident in Pierce County: here’s how they can get involved! If you have a local business, non-profit, or other community group, you can send them this flyer to print out:

The flyer includes a link to this letter community members who support us can fill out.

Share Your Staffing Story

We’ve heard your stories on staffing and how it has impacted your ability to give patient care. These stories matter – your testimony for the Department of Health makes an impact on how they decide to proceed with the proposed expansion of the Good Samaritan Tower.

Sip and Chat

Stay updated on negotiations, our info picket, and the Department of Health hearing by coming to sip and chat this Thursday. Come bring any questions you have, we’re excited to hear your perspective!

You can click the link below (we recommend downloading the Teams app), or dial in to an audio-only call using this number: +1 206-485-2614,,703492094# Phone Conference ID: 703 492 094#. Sip and Chat starts at 8 p.m. and is a virtual meeting

Follow us on Social Media!

You can share our Facebook picket event at https://fb.me/e/3C6nlyrZ2.

Follow us on Instagram @GSHnurses, and on our Facebook page at Good Samaritan Nurses. To join the private Facebook group for RNs, ask your unit rep or a bargaining team member to add you.

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; need more picket pledges; need T-Shirts; 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.