We had our first session with management on Sept. 12. We gave the employer our opening proposal. We have not received a response but were told by their chief negotiator that they would have something for us by 9 a.m. on Sept. 25 (our next scheduled date).

We were informed Tuesday, Sept. 11 (one day before our first session) that the employer had retained an outside counsel, other than the attorney with whom we had been communicating.

As a result of this, two of the dates we had confirmed were cancelled by the employer. We have confirmed two other dates, Oct. 4 and Oct. 15. The employer is making it difficult for our team members to get the days off for negotiations, telling them that it’s not management’s responsibility to make the needed schedule changes because our team chose not to use IBB (Interest Based Bargaining). This is a union busting tactic.

We conveyed your interests to management based on communications with you, our entire Bargaining Unit of nurses, through individual conversations and what you submit to us on the Negotiation Survey. The HOT issues we are making proposals are staffing and floating.

What can you do to show support for your WSNA negotiating team?

• Wear your WSNA buttons every day, now through our next date, Sept. 25.
• Get ready for action and keep reading our negotiation updates!

Confirmed dates for Negotiations:

• Sept. 25
• Oct. 4
• Oct. 9
• Oct. 15

Your negotiating team members are: Jacob Garcia (CDU), Martha Galvez (Birth Center), Vanessa Douglas (ICU), Toni Ledridge (PAS), Kathy Peot (Resource), Marianne Sturtevant (OR), Meri Bukovinsky (CDU), Joyce McMurphy (NICU), (Anthony) Tony Jones (Cath Lab) and Joy Barclay (DI).

Let them know you appreciate their commitment to negotiating on your behalf.

If you have any questions, contact any of the negotiation team members or WSNA Nurse Representative Carmen Garrison at cgarrison@wsna.org.