In January 2017, Jail Health Nurses saw a sudden change in how they were paid overtime during weeks that contained holidays. Any nurse who held a 1.0 FTE and worked extra shifts during holiday weeks were always paid at the overtime rate. All of a sudden, the overtime disappeared. Because this was a unilateral change, WSNA filed a grievance.

WSNA nurses met with labor relations on April 25, 2018. We were able to demonstrate through extensive data analysis that nurses had been paid overtime for any extra shifts worked during holiday weeks prior to January 2017. By that afternoon, we had a settlement. Any nurses who were denied overtime for working extra shifts would be paid retroactively to January 1, 2017. Also, going forward, nurses that work 1.0 FTE will always be paid overtime if working extra shifts during weeks that contain holidays. Management recognized the wisdom of continuing to incentivize nurses to work extra shifts during holiday weeks. Take a moment to thank Sue Anne Brent and Brenda Balogh, RNs at KCCF, for standing up and fighting for you!

For any questions, please contact WSNA Nurse Representative Hanna Welander athwelander@wsna.org.