We met with the County for our third bargaining session on April 11. It was a virtual meeting with both the Supervisors and Staff Nurses. The themes could be described as: frustrating, surprising and a need to remain steadfast in our bargaining unit priorities!

We were hopeful that the County would have had responses to our economic proposals. We set the stage for this in the Longevity Committee work in 2024 and have made 2 rounds of proposals thus far. Instead of coming to the table with a response to our economic proposals, the County came with an explanation related to the many stakeholders at the County that need to weigh in on negotiations. Your team is very cognizant that County preliminary budgets are due in May. The clock is ticking.

We know we won’t agree on everything. That’s bargaining! It was rather eye-opening to see the County reject our proposals to include language about the following:

Safe staffing, missed breaks, and workplace violence that aligns with applicable laws.

The icing on this cake from the County was a proposal to end the reduced parking rate for KCCF nurses at Goat Hill. Seriously? Your bargaining team stressed the value of this contractual benefit and how it was a huge satisfier for the nurses. Neither the adequacy and safety of public transportation, nor the proximity or cost of parking further away has improved since we ratified the last contract. Your team stands firm that this parking benefit MUST continue.

It wasn’t all gloom and doom. We achieved some minor tentative agreements or learned we may be closer to each other on the following topics:

Updated purpose language with increased emphasis on equity.

Continuing Education clarifications on what is and is not subject to proration.

Bilingual premium expansion

Choice of leave to care for a qualified dependent

Calls to action!

Be an observer on April 23 when we return to the virtual bargaining table at 9am. Nurses who are not on shift are welcome to observe negotiations and support your team. Then, in the afternoon, we will continue an extended bargaining team caucus to work on our proposals with you to present to the County at the next session on May 8th. Contact a team member or Nurse Representative Tara Barnes at tbarnes@wsna.org and we will provide the details and guidelines to join.

Story action launch! Make no mistake, the staff nurses made a significant difference in our last full negotiations with their stories. Let’s use what works to bring your voice to the table in this fight for a strong fair contract. https://forms.office.com/r/S04z0pf6M7

In unity,

Elena Schensted NFP Columbia City PH Center, Chair 
Stephen Lee RJC, Vice-Chair 
Tami Nesler RJC, Grievance officer  
Kiesha Garcia-Stubbs NFP Downtown PH Center, Grievance officer
Carolyn Clark KCCF, Grievance officer
WSNA Nurse Representative: Tara Barnes

You can view the 2025 wage table, current contract 2023-2024, 2025 extension of that agreement, health benefits agreement and a chronological archive of communications to the staff nurses using the document links in the bar above.

Check out the pic of your negotiating team on Teams following the April 11 session, as well as a recent pic of staff and supervisor PHNs at Chinook. Their positive energy and fortitude really shine through!