Kara Yates, RN
Medical FA3
Kara Yates, RN
Medical FA3
Annika Hoogestraat, BSN, RN, CCRN, IBCLC
CICU and ECMO
Lindsey Kirsch, BA, BSN, RN, CPEN
Urgent Care
(206) 790-4096
Sam Forte, BSN, RN
OR
AJ Nagal, BSN, RN
CCFP - Night Shift
(360) 670-0314
Katie Podobnik, BSN, RN
Plastic Surgery
Therese Hill, BSN, RN
CCFP
(415) 271-0231
Emma Gordon, BSN, RN
Ambulatory - Orthopedics
(206) 992-3759
Kelsey Gellner, BSN, RN
Urgent Care
(253) 279-8344
Posted Oct 8, 2025
Yesterday, we met with hospital leadership for bargaining session 19, and we encountered both challenges and opportunities in our ongoing negotiations.
As we move forward, we are prepared to engage a federal mediator; however, the ongoing government shutdown has left us without that vital support at this time. Despite these challenges, our bargaining team has come together to strengthen our resolve and push these negotiations forward.
Today’s experience, along with using our nurses as props in our CNO's one and only inpatient appearance at a celebration, when we have been begging her to join us at the bargaining table, is just too much. This team's advocacy for humanity keeps being dismissed as too costly. It's infuriating and disheartening, but we will keep fighting for our bargaining unit.
The fight across the table in session 19 was specifically over our co-chair using the word ‘inhumane’ in reference to the hospital’s refusal to accept our proposal to allow for a nurse to take the rest of the day off if their patient dies. The hospital’s attorney jumped on the chance to flip her words, accusing her of name calling. She was not attacking anyone personally, she was calling out a longtime injustice that has been perpetuated for far too long.
The refusal to acknowledge the risk and reverence to the humanity of our work - be it physically, mentally or emotionally - is dehumanizing and inhumane at the very definition of the word.
We appreciate your ongoing support and solidarity as we continue to work towards securing a fair contract. Together, we stand firm in advocating not only for our benefits but also for the dignity and respect every nurse deserves.
Those misleading communications that management put out are not going to work if nurses come to witness the truth of what is happening at bargaining with their own eyes. We saw them flinch when we packed the room with observers before, and we can’t let up now.
Bring lunch, bring your badge, wear your WSNA blue, and come stand with us as we fight for a better future for ourselves and our patients.
10/16, 10/17, 10/29, 10/30 and 11/3
1916 Boren, 11th floor
We start at 9 am but you can come when you are able. Here are some guidelines:
If you have further questions about observing after reading the guidelines, please reach out to our organizer Crystal Doll at cdoll@wsna.org.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to take action as a collective of powerful professionals.
Take a look at yesterday’s update to see picket photos and the Financial Report.
Do not hesitate to contact any of the officers if you have questions. All of our contacts are on our WSNA website. https://www.wsna.org/union/seattle-childrens-hospital. Also, utilizing our Instagram @sch_wsna offers quick updates and opportunities for DMs.
In solidarity,
Your Bargaining Team
Annika Hoogestraat, Kara Yates, Lindsey Kirsch, Sam Forte, Katie Podobnik, Therese Hill, Kelsey Gellner, AJ Nagal, Emma Gordon, Sarah Munro, Cody Ian, Lauren Lustyk, Regan Halom, Jon McAferty and Anne Marie Fountain
WSNA Nurse Rep Linda Burbank at lburbank@wsna.org
Oct 07, 2025
Sep 30, 2025
Sep 29, 2025
Sep 26, 2025
Sep 25, 2025
Sep 19, 2025
Save the date for the 2026 WSNA Union Leadership Conference.
If you find yourself in a situation that you believe creates unsafe conditions for patients or for you, you should complete a Staffing Complaint / ADO Form as soon as possible.
By completing the form, you will help make the problem known to management, creating an opportunity for the problem to be addressed. Additionally, you will be documenting the facts, which may be helpful to you later if there is a negative outcome.
WSNA also uses your ADO forms to track the problems occurring in your facility. When you and your coworkers take the important step of filling out an ADO form, you are helping to identify whether there is a pattern of unsafe conditions for you or your patients at your facilities. This information is used by your conference committee, staffing committee, and WSNA labor staff to improve your working conditions.
As a union member, you have the right to have a representative present in any meetings with management that could potentially lead to disciplinary action against you.
If called into a meeting with management, read the following to management when the meeting begins:
If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, I respectfully request that my union representative be present at this meeting. Without representation present, I choose not to participate in this discussion.
Find out more about this crucial right and how to exercise it to ensure your fair treatment and protection.
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