Mediation update and strike prep
Posted Nov 22, 2019
Learn more at our Local Unit Meetings TOMORROW
Nov. 23, Saturday 8 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m.
Spokane Labor Council
510 S. Elm
Mediation
We continue to fight for a fair contract and prepare for a strike. We had another mediation session today. We reached a few tentative agreements. We successfully fought off management’s changes to the grievance procedure as well as reductions to supplemental nurse premiums and management’s proposed increased work requirements for supplemental nurses. We continue to try to work through the core issues, but management has not changed their position on them.
We heard you loud and clear regarding your continuing concerns about management’s STD proposal, which includes:
- 7-day waiting period
- Coverage does not extend to families
- Only 65% income replacement
- Loss of EIT and reduced PTO accrual
Management continues to propose stripping away hard-fought health insurance protections from the contract and continues to reject our common-sense staffing and workplace violence proposals. Your WSNA bargaining team has proposed wage increases that will be retroactive to 1/1/19.
See a detailed grid of WSNA and Management proposals below.
Strike preparation
A great crowd of members kicked off our Strike Committee work at our meetings this week, digging into the logistics of picketing, finances, internal and external communications, child care, employment opportunities, emergency standby and strike headquarters. We are confident we will be ready to go when a strike is called!
We continue to work in coalition with UFCW 21 and SEIU 1199 in our statewide effort to push back on Providence’s hardline negotiations at tables across the state. 15,000 Providence workers have now voted to authorize a strike. We are stronger together!
Community engagement
We have been out in the community talking to community and labor groups and have been overwhelmed by the support we are getting. On Nov. 18, Local Unit co-chair Stevie Lynne Krone was invited to join UFCW 21 members in speaking to the Spokane City Council. The group discussed contract negotiations and the impact on the community.
Nearly 3,000 community members have signed our petition supporting Sacred Heart nurses! Check out our full page ad in the Spokesman Review this Sunday.
And, continue to share our petition with family, friends and community members!
Where we stand in some of the key proposals after mediation:
Make sure to come to our Local Unit meetings to ask questions and learn more!
Any questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins, BSN, RN at 800-231-8482, ext. 3118 or jperkins@wsna.org.