Bargaining update - Day four
Posted Dec 1, 2022
The bargaining team petition is still live. Don't miss your chance to sign in solidarity with the nurses of WSNA.
Orange hard copy petitions will also be available during the following café times. Stop by and encourage others to as well!
Café times:
Monday, Dec. 5 0730-1030, 1430-1630, 1830-2030
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 0730-1030, 1430-1630, 1830-2030
Day #4 of negotiations is complete. Your WSNA team of nurses had lengthy conversations with management regarding the Workplace Violence Committee and the need for the committee members to be fully informed of the reports being filed. We stressed the importance of each complaint being followed up on directly, and not being left with no response from anyone in leadership. Right now, the WSNA committee members are only afforded trends of issues or potential issues from management which we feel is not enough. The WSNA team would like to see a true collaborative approach to solving problems together.
We continued our discussions regarding SANE nurses (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) and continued to stress the need to train more SANE nurses and to fairly compensate nurses who perform this much needed service to our community. We have made some progress, but we are not there yet.
Management made movement on wages, but we are still apart on the issue. They proposed approximately a 9% increase in the first year of the contract and eliminating the “ghost steps” 12, 14 and 16; 3% in the second year; and 2.5% in the third year. We are pushing for wages that recruit and retain excellent nurses and reduce the reliance on temporary staffing measures such as travelers and overtime.
We secured a tentative agreement regarding proper notification of proposed changes in staffing guidelines which afford us the opportunity to be aware of the issue sooner for quicker intervention. We also came to agreement on the configuration of clinical float groups and on language ensuring that nurses receive appropriate training and orientation for assignments within the clinical group.
Your WSNA team of nurses continues to stand strong in an effort to amplify the voices of Sacred Heart nurses and to improve our wages and working conditions. If you have not signed the bargaining team petition (link listed above) do not delay! The number of signatures received tells your bargaining team, as well as management, that nurses are willing to do what it takes to achieve a fair contract.
Local unit meeting is today, Dec 1! Come, hear more details on what was discussed and sign a petition in person:
Spokane Labor Council
510 S Elm.
0800-0900, 1330-1430, 1600-1700, 2000-2100
Your opportunity is HERE to advocate for SAFE STAFFING in the legislature.
The officers of SHMC have generously offered to sponsor up to five nurses from SHMC to attend WSNA Lobby Day, Feb 2nd. The sponsorship is $400 per nurse. The sponsorship will be awarded on a first come, first-serve basis. This is a GREAT time to meet 1:1 with your legislators and tell them why safe staffing is so important.
The deadline for Lobby Day registration is Dec 23rd. So now is the time to register and book any needed travel. If you are interested in taking advantage of this offer, email Nurse Rep Jaclyn Smedley BSN, RN at jsmedley@wsna.org. (Must be a member in good standing per WSNA Officers)
Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Smedley, BSN, RN at jsmedley@wsna.org.