The new transition to Symplr has been less than perfect, and the bumps in the road continue. Nurses have reported a change in how their shift differentials are being paid, now that the new system has gone into effect. This issue was quickly escalated to HR in an effort to resolve the issue informally before moving to a grievance. Unfortunately, HR confirmed their interpretation of the language, and it is not the same as how it has been applied in the past. We do not agree with their new application of paying shift differential based on the majority of hours worked, vs paying shift differential strictly by hours worked.

As a result, our efforts to address the issue informally were not heard as quickly as we had hoped. While we are still working with HR on this, we felt a grievance must be filed to preserve timelines and to seek a more timely remedy.

If you feel your shift differentials have been impacted by this change, we are asking all nurses to document it. Make note of the following:

1. The date in which you worked and earned a shift differential
2. The type of shift differential
3. The amount of shift differential in which they paid you for your shift
4. The amount of shift differential in which you SHOULD have been paid for your shift

Keep this information on hand and readily available. We may ask for it when pursing a remedy as the grievance moves through the process.

The Cancer Center RNs are a newly organized group of nurses who in the past year declared to the National Labor Relations Board they wanted to be represented by WSNA and under the PHSW contract. After the organizing process concluded, bargaining immediately began to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which would address their wages, hours and working conditions. These negotiations are a needed step in accreting them into the already current language of the collective bargaining agreement. A tentative agreement on the MOU was reached March 27, 2025, and it was time to put it to a vote. On April 3, the vote concluded, and the oncology nurses unanimously voted to ratify their MOU! This meant each and every nurse who voted, voted YES, and there were zero no votes. Therefore, it’s time to welcome the Cancer Center Oncology RNs to the WSNA contract! Not only does this mean this group of nurses will have a voice in their workplace as the RNs do, but it also means your unit of powerful nurses just got stronger and BIGGER! This is a WIN for ALL RNs! Congratulations PHSW WSNA Nurses!

To view the ratified MOU click here.

WSNA’s unfair labor practice charge against PeaceHealth will get a hearing

Recently we have heard that management is not following the contract when it comes to awarding extra shifts, either before the schedule is posted, or after. There is clear contract language that speaks to a process that must be followed and if not, this would constitute a grievance.

11.2.5 states “If RNs request extra work in a schedule before the day of the schedule's expected posting date, priority in assigning extra work, up to 2 additional shifts in a pay period per RN, will be given to RNs in the following order: RNs whose requested extra shift would be paid at straight time rates, either in whole or in part; part-time RNs; Per Diem RNs; Relief RNs; and then fulltime RNs. If two or more RNs in a category (e.g., part-time RNs) have requested extra work, the most senior RN will be assigned the work (up to the two-additional-shift maximum). For up to seven days after a schedule has been posted, priority in assigning extra work will be given in order of seniority.”

If you feel this language is not being followed, please reach out to your Nurse Representative or a WSNA local unit officer and we will quickly work to address your issue.

PeaceHealth’s threat to cancel employees’ health insurance if they go on strike will now get a hearing for an unfair labor practice. Region 19 of the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against PeaceHealth over these threats. The Region 19 complaint came after its investigators found merit to an unfair labor practice charge filed by the Washington State Nurses Association in late 2023. A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12, 2025.

WSNA filed the unfair labor practice in October 2023 after PeaceHealth’s statements to employees and the media during a strike at PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver and PeaceHealth St. John in Longview.

The strike was organized by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professions, which represents more than 1,700 techs, janitorial employees, and others at both facilities.

During the strike, PeaceHealth threatened to pull health benefits from striking employees, citing the move in statements to the press as its “standard practice that applies to any caregiver (union-represented or not.)”

“This was a blanket statement that covered all employees, including WSNA-represented nurses, their coworkers in other unions, and unrepresented workers alike,” said Kelly Skahan, labor counsel at WSNA. “We couldn’t let this threat go unchallenged.” In its filing, WSNA said that PeaceHealth had violated Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act, which prohibits employers from interfering with, restraining or coercing employees in their exercise of protected rights.

WSNA argued that the threat to revoke health insurance from any striking worker could reasonably chill protected activity by giving workers the impression they will lose their health benefits if they exercise their protected rights.

Do you know your rights in an investigatory meeting?

We have prepared an investigatory interview guide for WSNA union members.

Use this link to open the document. Understanding your representation rights - WSNA.

Protect yourself and know your rights.

Did you know? The WSNA officers meet with the Local Unit Reps, and the whole bargaining unit each month! That’s right, two routine meetings happen each month to help the WSNA officers stay connected with issues and YOU. All RNs are invited to attend each of them should you want to.

If wanting to join the robust group of Local Unit Reps, join us the first Wednesday of each month. From 1800 to 1930 via teams.

No fear, we can fix this for you! Email Jaclyn Smedley BSN, RN at jsmedley@wsna.org and we will get it resolved.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Smedley, BSN, RN at  jsmedley@wsna.org.