Chair
Susan Babcock
Officers
Vice Chair
Sue Starr, PHN
WSNA staff contact
WSNA staff contact
Grace Chesterman
Nurse Representative
Contract
Latest update
Contract Negotiation Update
Posted Jun 12, 2024
We had our twelfth session with administration in mid-May and have moved our negotiations online because they were unable to provide us with another session date until early July! We want to wrap this contract up as soon as possible so we can get everyone the retro-pay and raise that they have been patiently waiting for, but we also want to balance doing our due diligence to fight hard for the best contract we can get for our members.
The main points of contention that we are still working on are the proposed wage increases to bring us up to market with other health districts in comparable cost-of-living areas and the anti-discrimination clause, which the employer proposed getting rid of entirely. We want to continue to have the ability to resolve issues with discrimination within the union when possible if it's appropriate. While the employer argues that there are other venues available to deal with discrimination in the workplace, we feel it is important to be able to address issues that arise using tools available to the union. We are discussing a new top step for nurses who have dedicated a large part of their career to the community in the County, as well as deleting the current lowest step to raise the new-hire wage to better compete with other public health jobs. We have also come to an agreement on an increase for on-call wages. Much progress has been made on a full-contract overhaul, and we are in the home stretch. We will keep you posted on any new developments and hope to come to a vote soon.
Your bargaining team,
Sue Starr and Susan Babcock
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your bargaining team or your WSNA nurse rep, Grace Chesterman (gchesterman@wsna.org).
Previous updates
Bargaining Update: Session 11 coming up on May 6
May 01, 2024
Bargaining Update: Session 9
Apr 12, 2024
Negotiations Update: Session 7
Mar 04, 2024
Bargaining Update: Sessions 3 and 4
Jan 24, 2024
December Bargaining Sessions
Dec 21, 2023
Negotiations for Your New Contract Start Soon!
Dec 07, 2023
WSNA union news
Resources and tools
Document unsafe conditions
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.
Representation rights
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.
Continuing education offerings
Enhance your professional competency with WSNA's free online courses.
Earn CNE contact hours through topics like Cultural Humility, Telehealth Assessment, Workplace Violence Prevention, and more. Convenient and self-paced, our courses provide practical knowledge for your daily work. Expand your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest nursing practices.