Day One of Negotiations: A Strong Start!
Posted Jan 16, 2025
Yesterday, your WSNA bargaining team met with management for the first day of negotiations. Management “tentatively agreed” to many of our initial proposals, and we made significant progress toward securing a stronger contract for St. Clare nurses. We are busy preparing new proposals to address issues at Clare’s that we feel will make our Hospital an even better place to work.
We presented a series of proposals that prioritize nurses’ needs and protect our rights, including:
Weapons detectors in the ED
Improvements to safety in the workplace including locking the main entrance on weekends
Bolstering rights for Per Diem nurses
Clarifying and improving preceptor language, including what qualifies as precepting.
Strengthening job opening language to ensure current St. Clare WSNA nurses have priority.
Reordering the low census process and improving transparency around low census decisions.
Replacing President’s Day with Juneteenth as a recognized holiday.
Expanding bereavement leave to include more family members.
Protecting nurses’ rights to participate in collective actions, like pickets and strikes, for other unions without fear of retaliation (on their own time).
Management responded to several of our proposals, and we reached agreements on multiple key articles, including:
Improving new employee orientation (NEO).
Streamlining WSNA PAC contributions.
Strengthening language around introductory nurse probation periods.
We’ll be back at the table on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Human Resources Building at St. Clare Hospital. We expect management’s responses to the remaining proposals and will present the bulk of our remaining proposals.
Be Part of the Process: Observe Negotiations!
Want to see what it’s really like at the bargaining table? Come observe negotiations on Friday! This is your chance to witness the hard work that goes into fighting for a fair contract. Observers are welcome at 12:30 PM at the Human Resources Building.
If you’d like to attend, contact your nurse representative, Jared Richardson, at JRichardson@WSNA.org. Don’t forget to review the observer guidelines.
Show Your Union Strength!
Let’s remind management that every single one of the 300 nurses at St. Clare stands united for a fair contract. Wear your WSNA t-shirts, pins, and union swag on bargaining days and for Blue Fridays. Our power comes from our unity—together, we will win the best contract possible!
In solidarity,
your Bargaining Team,
Clair Korrell, Co-Chair
Devon Tallman, Co-Chair
Savvy Baily, Interim Treasurer
Jessica Cook, Co-Secretary
Nikki Wright, Co-Secretary
Erin Stoner, Grievance Officer
Tiffany Stephansky, Grievance Officer
Brandi Poggemann, Membership Officer
Molly McKinney, Membership Officer