Vote is planned for Monday July 1 in-person at Overlake, voting times TBD

At our eleventh bargaining session on June 17, we reached a tentative agreement with Overlake management on your next contract. We secured an agreement that places Overlake nurses close to or on par (depending on step) with the highest-paid union hospital nurses in the Seattle-Bellevue area; includes additional FTEs for break relief while preserving the current float pool break relief nurses; beginning the first pay period in September 2024, provides for step increases every twelve months; and contains strong staffing committee language. We recognize that the unprecedented actions taken by nurses and our solidarity throughout negotiations empowered us to secure a strong contract.

A huge thank you to all who participated in our collective actions and kept the pressure on management by filing ADOs for missed breaks and staffing. A special shout-out to CAT team members, unit reps and activists who worked extremely hard to inform you about these opportunities and helped facilitate our show of union strength to management at Overlake.

Highlights from our TA:

Wages:

• Wages effective the first pay period following ratification that bring you close to or on par (depending on step) with what the highest-paid union hospital nurses in the Seattle-Bellevue area (specifically, at Seattle Children’s, Virginia Mason, and Swedish First Hill) will receive later this year.
• Wage increases of 6.25% effective the first full pay period following ratification, 4.5% the first full pay period in May 2025, and 3.5% the first full pay period in May 2026.
•  A ratification bonus equivalent to 6.25% of wages (not including premiums and overtime) from approximately contract expiry to the effective date of this year’s increase.
• Elimination of ghost steps.
• Increase in night shift differential from $4.50 to $5/hour.
•  A new night shift longevity differential for nurses designated night shift who have three or more years from date of hire.

Wage and PTO steps/progression

• Effective the first full pay period in September 2024: Step increases and PTO progression after twelve months, rather than 1664 hours or twelve months, whichever is later.

Leave:

• Effective January 13, 2025:
  * Transition from EIB to sick leave, making it immediately available.
  * Current EIB leave banks frozen and accessible as “Legacy EIB”
  * Align our contract with the Washington State sick leave law.
  * Allow 400 hours of sick leave rollover, with a maximum total rollover of legacy EIB and sick of 600 hours.
•  Current contract language until just before January 13, 2025

Staffing:

•  Add FTEs dedicated to break relief, including a commitment that each unit will assign on each shift at least one nurse to the break relief role
• Preserve the break relief nurses as of May 1, 2024 in the float pool
• Include staffing committee language to help preserve our voice under the 2023 Hospital Staffing Committee law

Benefits:

• Eliminate the requirement for a wellness exam to earn the $0 employee-only medical benefits premium.
• Provide WSNA nurses a seat at the table on a health benefits committee.

First Informational Union Meeting Tonight, June 18!

Join bargaining team members tonight from 8-9 pm for an informational union meeting about the TA. Click the button to join via Microsoft Teams or call in 206-485-2614; Passcode: 283122335# to join.

In Solidarity,
Your Negotiations Team,
Chris Birchem Ortho/Spine Surgery
Cassie Bundick CCU
Caine Ballew Float Pool
Michele Percosky OPS
Kristin Barnett IPS
Stacey Alvarez ED
Melissa Santos CCU
Balla Sarr Break Relief RN

If you have questions contact, Zach at zseikel@wsna.org or Tara at tbarnes@wsna.org).