We met with management for the first time on June 9 and presented all of our initial proposals. We reached a few minor tentative agreements – TAs – today, mostly language clean up. We proposed, and management agreed to, lactation language and grievance timeline extensions.

We gave management our economic proposals – we proposed that the hospital and clinic wage scales be brought into alignment, and that every nurse working here as of ratification receive a minimum 10% raise in the first year, retroactive to the first full pay period after March 31, 2022. We proposed 7% for each of the two subsequent years. St. Joe’s nurses negotiated 6.25% (a historically high rate for PeaceHealth), and we felt confident asking for more based on the considerable market research we completed which showed that island life has a higher cost of living than on the mainland. We also proposed increases in numerous other premiums and differentials. We are expecting management’s counterproposal on Monday, June 13 for our 2^nd day of negotiations.

Thank you to all who wore stickers today and showed your support for your team at the table! Your team felt the love and solidarity.
In preparation for our next negotiations, we are handing out blue WSNA t-shirts for all PIMC nurses. Zanna Cochran will be handing out t-shirts on Friday, June 10 in the parking lot by the clinic pop up tent from noon to 2 p.m.! Look for her there to pick up your t-shirt! All nurses working on Monday, June 13 wear your WSNA t-shirt for “Blue Monday” and send us a photo. We will feature these support photos online and in our newsletters. Management pays attention to how much support the bargaining team has at the table so your participation in each of these actions is critical to the success of our contract. Let’s paint the hospital with a sea of blue on Monday!

In solidarity,

Your team:
Zanna Cochran – Clinic
Melissa Aylward – OR
Julie Bielau – OR
Elizabeth Schaltenbrand - ED

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Sue Dunlap at sdunlap@wsna.org.