The least you need to know:

• Overlake wants us to be quiet. We will not.
• Gemma Aranda has resigned as grievance officer, we wish her well.
• Erin Hurley is our new grievance officer, hurray!
• Still bargaining about the vaccine mandates effects, please file your exemptions or get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Silencing concerns

We expressed our concerns that management may be using intimidation tactics to silence nurses in our last update. We have been disheartened by the hospital’s response to our concerns. Instead of investigating internally, Overlake doubled down and are now using physical intimidation against WSNA staff. Our Organizer, Zach Seikel was menaced and detained by security Wednesday while conducting his usual rounds. Zach is fine, however…

This cannot be tolerated.

It is our right to have access to WSNA personnel at the hospital per Law and Contract. We filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and will continue to round with new precautions for the safety of WSNA staff.

While this is terrible, Zach agrees that we don’t want the focus to shift away from the root cause of our concerns. We would reiterate Overlake’s own mantra “If you see something, say something.” Our main concerns right now include: Intimidation, staffing, personal and environmental safety, patient care and advocacy. We will continue to push Overlake to do the right things.

Grievance Officers

We want to welcome Erin Hurley, our newly appointed grievance officer. Erin is an ED nurse working for Overlake for 11 years. Erin has been instrumental in our efforts to change the working conditions in the ED and we are excited to have her step into this role. We are sad to say that Erin is replacing Gemma Aranda, who stepped down earlier in the Summer. We wish Gemma the best and are grateful for all the work she has done in the Grievance Officer role. Welcome and goodbye old and new friends.

COVID vaccine mandate implications bargaining

We continue to bargain the effects of the vaccine mandate. In order to be in compliance with the law, you must be vaccinated or exempted prior to Oct. 18. To meet this deadline for vaccination, you must get the Johnson and Johnson shot by the now passed, Oct. 4. If you have not requested an exemption yet and are planning to, please do. We cannot change the date of enforcement or the scope of the mandate which is essentially law. Regardless of anyone’s personal position, it is a right to be protected in your workplace. We ask that we all follow Overlake’s masking guidelines at all times to protect your co-workers and patients.

Resources

• Protect your license, file an ADO: https://www.wsna.org/ado
• Reasons to file an ADO: https://www.wsna.org/union/ado
• If you had MOT, file an L&I complaint: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/wagecomplaint/#/
• If you have patient safety concerns, file a DOH Complaint: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/providercredentialsearch/ComplaintIntakeForm.aspx
• Please contact our WSNA Nurse Rep Sam Scholl for anything sscholl@wsna.org.
• Please let our WSNA Organizer Zach Seikel know if you want to be more involved zseikel@wsna.org.
• Concerned about staffing? Join the Staffing Committee. Inquire with the above.
• If you are not already, become a member. Our union at Overlake is as strong as the members make it. https://www.wsna.org/membership/application/union

Your WSNA Officers,

Chris Birchem, Janet Moore-Lane, Cassie Bundick, Kathryn Geren, Natalie Anderson, Emnet Bizuneh and introducing Erin Hurley