Contract negotiation survey

It's almost that time! With 2020 around the corner you know what that means? Contract negotiations! WSNA and Kindred will be headed back to the negotiation table! We hope all nurses take the time to think about and participate in the survey we have just released. It's so important because this survey will help guide your negotiations team. The survey will let us know what issues are most important to you and your coworkers. The negotiation survey will also be your opportunity to express your desire to volunteer to be part of the negotiating team!

Speaking of negotiations...

We need you!

We have vacancies on our local unit officer team and are actively looking for volunteers to fill the positions of co-chairs and grievance officers. All education, resources and training are provided. The whole team participates in negotiations and works to secure the best contract for the nurses at Kindred. If you are passionate about the working conditions of yourself and your co-workers and want to make a difference, please nominate yourself! We have a super great group of people on the team and would love to include more members. Please get the nomination form to Terri Williams as soon as possible either by email, fax, scan or mail to the office.

Document unsafe conditions

Are your working conditions less than expected on a regular basis? You can help yourself and your colleagues by completing an ADO form.

By completing the form, you are helping to make the problem known to management, which creates an opportunity for the problem to be addressed. Additionally, you are documenting the facts, which may be helpful to you later if there is a negative outcome.

Reasons to complete the ADO form:
Charge nurse is unable to perform charge nurse duties, secondary to increased patient care assignment

• Inadequate nurse to patient ratios for patient acuity based on your clinical judgment
• Insufficient support staff requires you to assume additional duties
• You are not trained or experienced in the area assigned
• You have not been oriented to this unit / case load
• Patient care equipment missing or unusable
• Necessary equipment is not available (e.g.: supplies, IVs, medication availability)
• You are not trained or experienced to use equipment in assigned area
• System failure (e.g.: computer, phone, pyxis, call system)
• An assignment poses a serious threat to your health and safety
• An assignment poses a serious threat to the health and safety of a patient under your direct care
• Forced / mandatory overtime
• Missed breaks

The link to the Staffing Complaint/ADO form can be downloaded and saved onto your personal cell phone so that it is available all the time. To access the form, go to http://www.wsna.org/union/ado.

Are we able to get in touch with you?

Do we have your current contact information? Please make sure your cell phone number and personal email is current with WSNA, as the communication via these avenues will be used more frequently in the near future. You don't want to miss out on important updates regarding our union. We utilize the email system a LOT during negotiations and you don’t want to miss the updates. If you need to make changes or re subscribe to emails, please call the WSNA office and speak to someone in Membership!

Frequently asked questions:

When & Why do I need representation?

You need to take a representative from WSNA with you for meetings that could lead to discipline. The WSNA representative will provide you with assistance and counsel. In addition, the representative will take detailed notes of what you say and what your manager says. Usually these meetings are emotional for the RN involved. After walking out of the director or manager’s office, often the RN doesn’t remember all that was said, how it was said, and what was agreed to, etc. Having your WSNA representative present can prevent later disputes about exactly what was actually said in the meeting. The representative can also help you clarify confusing questions.

Who can represent me?

Contact Terri Williams, MS, RN; WSNA Nurse Rep at twilliams@wsna.org.

Upcoming WSNA education:

Go to https://www.wsna.org/calendar to see upcoming education events.

If you have any questions regarding the above information or about your Contract, please contact:
Terri Williams, MS, RN
WSNA Nurse Representative
twilliams@wsna.org

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