We completed our 14^th session of negotiations, our third with a federal mediator. We reached tentative agreements on a few issues, including fighting off management’s horrible variable shift proposal. Still, there is much work to do. Providence brought in a benefits adviser to provide an overview of the proposed Short-Term Disability plan. WSNA brought in a benefits expert to explore the plan benefits themselves and what impact the new plan may have on Providence’s bottom line. Providence claims that its proposed plans are better overall for nurses than the current PTO and EIT benefits. We do not agree. What seems clear to us is that Providence will, in many instances, pay far less for longer illnesses than it does under the current PTO/EIT structure and that State-provided benefits (funded mostly by employee-paid premiums), and not Providence’s STD plan, will pay for most of the benefits. To date, Providence has refused to answer our questions as to how the new plans will impact its bottom line. What do they have to hide?

Come to the next local unit meeting to hear more about what happened at the table:
Oct. 2, 2019
Spokane Labor Council
510 S. Elm
8 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m.

Our next day of mediation is Oct. 29.

Upcoming events! Spokane Labor Council Labor Rally on Oct. 16!

Your WSNA negotiating team at Sacred Heart has decided to host a booth at the upcoming Labor Rally! Please join them in solidarity!

Food, drinks, door prizes, music, family entertainment lots of fun and surprise guests!

One-dollar donation for food, beverage and door prize entry.

Children 12 and under are FREE!

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins, BSN, RN, at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3118 or jperkins@wsna.org.