Our Thursday, March 19, the contract bargaining session was cancelled. Due to the public health emergency, we are no longer able to conduct in-person contract bargaining.

It is not easy to focus on contract bargaining during this time when we are overwhelmed with concerns for our own health and safety, that of our families, our work colleagues, and of course continue to provide the best patient care that we can.

WSNA is exploring opportunities to continue bargaining remotely with Overlake using technology. We will keep you posted on those developments as we get closer to our next scheduled session on Thursday, April 2.

We ask for your continued support as we bargain for all the Overlake RNs to get us the best contract we can.

In solidarity,
Chris Birchem, East 3; Gemma Aranda, PACU; Brooke Dodd, South 4; Janet Moore-Lane, IPS; Pauline Whitney-Hille, IPS; Kathryn Geren, PACU; Cherise Horn, South 4; Sharon Sim, South 4; Magdalyn Chu, Emergency; Brenda Elliott, L&D; Jennifer Carney, South 3; Jesse Haung-Refuerzo, West 4

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COVID-19 update

WSNA continues to hear from Overlake RNs daily in regards to the COVID-19 crisis. The greatest concerns are in regards to reusing PPE and lack of supplies, questions and concerns around confirmed exposures, testing, nurses affected by the cancellation of elective procedures and surgeries – floating and low census, personal safety if immunocompromised or pregnant, and staffing. Your WSNA nurse rep receives dozens of emails and many phone calls daily to respond to your questions and concerns. WSNA is in touch with Overlake administration daily, to alert Overlake administration and to get answers for you.

In addition, WSNA leadership has been working at the regional and state-wide level to respond to nurses’ needs. WSNA efforts include working to get more test sites open and available; get more PPE released to hospitals who need them from state and federal reserves; to spread up-to-date information from the CDC and WHO as to best practices when PPE is at critical shortages; and to ensure that nurses are paid if unable to work because of risk of exposure from any source (not just work exposure).

If your nurse colleagues say they are not getting WSNA updates, which are sent out regularly at this time of national emergency, they should contact WSNA to ensure they have the correct personal email address on file, membership@wsna.org.

Updated resources for nurses, including FAQs and safety issues can be found at wsna.org.

If you have specific questions and concerns, please contact any local unit officer (listed on your unit bulletin board) or WSNA Nurse Representative Sydne James, sjames@wsna.org or 206-575-7979 ext. 3004.