Kadlec RNs – Are you being paid correctly?

The Genesis Issue first showed up on the 1^st paycheck in July. We heard from The Resource Team as they were hit hard. Slowly we began to hear some other pay issues, possible wage scale and 401 k disturbances. The repair and recovery for nurses impacted by this system has not been swift enough. WSNA has sent out a communication on the Genesis impact and our response. A survey was sent out by email and ends Sept 2. We appreciate all of you that participated. If you have experienced a pay issue, please let your manager know, create an HR ticket, and let your Nurse Rep or Officer know immediately!

COVID

We are hearing that Sedgwick is putting obstacles in nurses filing claims for the Presumptive Eligibility for COVID. If you test positive on a home test and you are told to stay off of work, BE SURE YOU GO TO YOUR PROVIDER OR TESTING SITE FOR DOCUMENTATION TEST. If you do not, Sedgwick is not processing the claim. Although HR is accepting the home test, a claim through Sedgwick is not! Also, it is WA state that decides if this workplace exposure NOT YOUR EMPLOYER!

The Negotiation Team

The Team has completed the prep for bargaining. We will be meeting with the attorney in the next few weeks.

Meri Bukovinsky-CDU

Michelle Killebrew-Pre/Post CV Cath Lab

Jamie Woodall-FSED

Andrew Blake-Cath Lab

Vanessa Douglas-CCU

Kat Banks-PACU

Yaamen Aldaas- 9RP

Kelsi Duncan-NICU

Anita Dennis-PACU

Unit Rep Meet and Lunch

The Negotiation Team met with Unit Reps for lunch on August 7^th. It was great to meet all of you and bring you up to speed. For those who were not able to attend, we missed you!

Unit Reps

We are still looking for Unit Reps. The training is free. If you are interested in keeping your unit quickly informed sign up for a class today!

If you have questions, contact Ryan Rosenkranz our Nurse Organizer, rrosenkranz@wsna.org or 206-867-4627

Staffing Committee

This meeting meets monthly and is co-chaired by Meri Bukovinsky and Kirk Harper. It is mandated by law and described within the collective bargaining agreement. (See 15.3-15.3 in the Collective Bargaining Agreement)

The Staff nurse committee members:
Meri Bukovinsky-CDU, Jamie Woodard-FSED, Anita Dennis-PAU, Melissa Morris-ED, FESD, KCHO, Paula Spencer-ED, Christina Rodriguez-Resource, Brent Knutzen-CCU and Nikki May-CCU

This committee reviews Assignment Despite Objection (ADOs) submissions. Every time a nurse submits, it is sent to WSNA and Nurse Rep. It then is emailed to Kirk Harper, Meri Bukovinsky, and the Unit Manager. It is the responsibility of the manager to have a verbal conversation about the ADO as well as submit a written response to the nurse and the committee. If this is not happening for you, we want to know. On average we are seeing 10 ADOs for review each month.

If there is any patient harm or safety concern, this includes staff safety. please file a QRR.

June open positions: 154
July open positions: 166
August open positions: UNKNOWN (Another Genesis issue)

The committee reviewed 12 ADOs
PAU-4
4RP-2
NICU-1
SURG-1
BC-1
ED-1
7RP-1
Pre/Post CL-1

The majority of ADOs continue to be surrounding leads having to take patients and the repercussions surrounding it. We continue to advocate for retention, and we were finally told that they do have a retention committee, but we were not given details and that an update would be given next month at committee.

Conference Committee

This committee meets monthly with the Officers, Kirk Harper, and Toby Sutton HR. We met on August 15.

• List of Certifications for pay- We have been asking for a list of certifications that have been approved for each unit. Apparently, these had been within the contract. We would like to see this occur with the new contract as this is poorly communicated to the nurses and the list has not been given to the committee.
• Lockers: We continue to speak on behalf of any nurse who is unable to store their belongings safely and securely while on duty. This continues to be an on-going work order. If you have experienced theft, please make a police report and a security report.
• Rosters: The contract article 3.3 speaks required Kadlec to provide a complete roster in January and July. We have not received.
• RNs Traveling with Patients: Contract article 5.13 This is a concern as there are times when a patient’s condition requires transport to another facility. Primarily we see this from FSED to Kadlec campus ED.
• Registry RNs Kadlec has been using Travel Nurses, but not Registry nurses. These are nurses who work for an agency and can provide a STAT nurse for a shift or short term, such as a few weeks. There are agencies that provide this service locally. This could help fill shifts that are open unexpectedly.
• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE): Too few nurses have attended the course training for SANE. Typically, a patient who has experienced a sexual assault requires 1:1 attention by a nurse for 4-6 hours. If a nurse who is trained is on duty and there is no one able to come in to do the exam it leaves the unit short. It should be the goal for any facility to develop a call system and to ensure nurses are trained.
• Nurses having trouble with access to EPIC and PYXIS. This was found on an employee who changed positions CNA to RN and a student to an RN. HR states that this is a Genesis issue. The system is wanting to give the employee a new employee ID.
• BSN premium: RN noticed dropped BSN premium. Manager told nurse that Providence no longer will be paying this. HR stated that this is contract language, he would speak with the manager and the BSN would be paid.
• Respiratory Therapist at FSED- There is a great need to have an RT at FSED. This is a request by the nurses.
• Pay for Incentive Shifts: This was being paid biweekly. This was done manually by the managers, and it had been working well until Genesis

Investigatory Meetings

If you are notified by you manager that you must attend an investigatory meeting, please invoke your Weingarten Rights (On the other side of your badge buddy) You have the right to have your Grievance Officer (Anita Dennis) or your Nurse Representative (Laurie Robinson) attend. If there is an outcome meeting with any corrective action, if a grievance is to be filed, it MUST be done so within 14 days.

Grievances

Currently there are 10 active grievances. 3 are disciplinary and these are private.

• Health Care Insurance

Nurse dropped FTE and lost eligibility, yet no COBRA or letter of eligibility provided. We have seen this twice now. If you are dropping below a .5 FTE, you must obtain a COBRA or letter. This can be used to obtain other coverage through spouse, partner, private. Update! This grievance was withdrawn as the nurse was made whole with the appeal process. A better communication and follow through is what is expected in the future.

• Termination

Arbitrarily terminated nurse who was on L&I. Was not allowed to secure a personal LOA This grievance is awaiting the Step 2 response.

• Per Diem RNs

Denied 15% above last service increment if they are working elsewhere within the Kadlec system. The RNs work under the collective bargaining agreement. When they work elsewhere, such as the surgical center, the CBA does not cover this work. This grievance has moved to Step 3.

• Disability

CBA states that Regularly scheduled nurses covered by this Agreement are eligible to be enrolled in the Employer’s Short Term and Long-Term Disability Plans under the same terms and conditions as applicable to other employees.

Currently, Kadlec policy states 100%. The CBA states The STD benefit will be maintained at a minimum of sixty-five percent (65%). This is protection language, if the employer suddenly changes their policy to 50% (example) This grievance is awaiting the Step 3 response and a new, similar grievance was filed and is awaiting a Step 1 response.

• Paycheck Shortages

Filed by a Resource RN and included All Affected. The CBA violations are: 4.12 Regular Rate of Pay 5.3 Work Period 8.3 MSN/BSN Certification Premium 8.7 Resource Team Premium This grievance was advanced to Step 2 and will be meeting on September 2.

• Members Dues

This is an association grievance. Kadlec has collected WSNA dues from nurses pay, yet no funds have to sent to WSNA for the month of July. (August was paid) We suspect this is another Genesis issue.

• Genesis related shortages

This is an association grievance for the following 4.12 Reg Rate of Pay, 4.8.1 PD Rate of Pay, 5.2 Rest/Meal Period 5.5 OT Computation 5.10 Rest between Shifts 7.11 Grade Advancement, Premium Pay: 8.1- 8.8, LOU Extra Shifts /Premium Shifts, LOU ESIB

For any questions or concerns please contact one of the Officers or Nurse Rep:

Meri Bukovinsky (CDU) Chair
Cell: 208-739-3439 hart.meri@gmail.com

Jamie Woodall (FSED) Co-Chair
Cell: 509-572-1091 jamie.orr237@gmail.com

Vanessa Douglas (ICU) Secretary/Treasurer
Cell: 352-682-0342 vanessa.p.douglas@gmail.com

Yaamen Aldaas (9 RP) Member at Large
Cell: 509-771-0326 yaamen.aldaas@gmail.com

Anita Dennis (PAU) Grievance Officer
Cell: 509-781-3011 ardennis@rocketmail.com

Laurie Robinson, WSNA Nurse Representative
Cell: 206-620-4136 lrobinson@wsna.org

WSNA Membership

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