Our WSNA nurses completed their third session of contract bargaining with Pullman Regional on October 30, 2025. Read below to hear how it went.

While we made a very complete initial proposal on the first day of bargaining including economics, we still have not received any wage proposals from Management.  What Management did want to talk about during the first three days of bargaining troubled us.  Rather than rolling up their sleeves and bargaining over wages and working conditions, they are fixated on limiting WSNA’s ability to interact with our nurses at Pullman and reducing many aspects of nurses’ overall compensation.

For example, even though Management was not prepared to bargain over our hourly rate of pay, it was more than ready to propose to reduce our wages when we are forced to work overtime or agree to work overtime to help out Management.  They also want to reduce our pay when we do not have enough rest between our shifts and eliminate our double-time.

There is simply no reason why Management should not be prepared to talk about wages. It's not like the start of negotiations came as a surprise or that they do not think about nurses’ compensation when they are preparing their budgets.  We expect Management to step up to the plate and come with their complete economic proposal at the next session.

So, what has Pullman proposed? 

• 7.1.1- Loss of seniority- Pullman is proposing to remove language that allows nurses to retain their seniority should they leave and come back within a year.
  • This is a no cost item for Management and is a large benefit for our nurses. This language doesn’t require Pullman to rehire nurses, just that if they leave and get re-hired into an open posting, they can maintain their seniority.
• 6.3 and 6.7- Union access to buildings and staff-Management proposed to that WSNA give them two business days’ notification for our union to be present or use meeting rooms to meet with nurses. This means if a nurse has an urgent issue, Management wants to prevent our union from meeting with our nurses without a 2-day notification. This union busting language is unnecessary and interferes with our ability to represent our members.
• 9.19 Rest Between Shifts.  Management proposed 10 hours’ rest between shifts instead of the current 12 hours for 8-hour nurses.
• 14.4.5- Tuition Reimbursement-Management is wanting to narrow the language even further to limit tuition reimbursement only for tuition and no fees of any kind.
  • WSNA recently settled a grievance awarding a nurse over seven-hundred dollars ($700) for what their university considered tuition-based fees. The education landscape has changed a lot in 21 years since the contract language was bargained, and we are disappointed to see Management trying to narrow this language. To be clear, our union isn’t proposing to increase the amount, and we believe that nurses pursuing higher education should be permitted to use those funds for fees required to receive education.
• 21.1 Staffing. Management proposed to delete language requiring them to provide staffing levels that enable nurses to regularly receive meal and rest breaks and to make every effort to provide adequate staff to support the staffing plan in effect.

These behaviors are deeply concerning, and we feel create a very different landscape than how bargaining has traditionally taken place. Our team is committed to every session until we obtain a fair contract for our nurses.

What can nurses do to help our union achieve a fair contract? Read below! 

1. On bargaining days- wear your WSNA T shirt, blue scrubs, button or sticker to show you stand with your team. Take a picture with your coworkers and send it to your nurse rep Alle Machorro at 206-707-2048.
   
2. Union membership- Join WSNA today. When you become a member, it shows management that nurses are paying attention
   
3. Stay informed- read your personal emails for bargaining updates and ask your colleagues if they have read them too!
4. Get involved in bargaining sessions- contact your WSNA Nurse Representative if you are off work on November 12 to see how you can support our team.

Check out our WSNA nurses supporting bargaining by wearing their blue!

Questions? Contact your WSNA Nurse Representative Alle Machorro to get involved!