When are Wage Increases Going to be Reflected?

The following articles are targeted for implementation on the 6/10/22 paycheck (which is the first full pay period following WSNA’s ratification of the contract):

• 7.10 Rest Between Shift updated language
• 8.1 Wage Rates – the new rates of pay and additional steps will be on the 6/10/22 paycheck
• Ratification Bonus
• 8.4 Nurse Team Leader – new rates of pay for NTL and RTL $4.25 (previous $2.75 for NTL and $2.50 for RTL)
• 8.5.1 Standby Pay – moving to $4.75 per hour (current $4.25) for under 40 hours in a pay period; $7.50 per hour for every hour of standby at or above 40 hours per pay period.
• 8.6 Shift Differential rates – based on new rate of pay $4.15 for eve and $7.16 for night
• 8.9 Preceptor Pay - $2.25 (current $1.50)
• 8.11 Float Unit Differential - $4.00 (current $2.75)
• 8.12 Floating Outside of Unit - $3.00 (current $1.00)

The following articles will be targeted for implementation on the 6/24/22 paycheck:

• 8.1 Wage Rates – retro for wage rates and the additional steps back to the first full pay period following 3/31/2022.

Still in Process:

• 8.5.3 Callback Pay--90 days following ratification
• Professional Nurse Advancement Program (PNAP)
• Student Loan Repayment

Staffing Concerns:

Many units have been working short. Your WSNA Officers have been made aware that nurses are being told that they cannot refuse an assignment. If you have concerns about accepting another patient, please go through your chain of command—NTL, house supervisor, manager, or Administrator on Call (AOC). Please document the situation on a WSNA ADO or Staffing Concern Form, even if the issue was resolved. In worst-case scenarios, please call a Safety Stop! You don't have to risk your patient's health when you are being pushed to do more than is humanly possible! Remember, if the situation warrants it, please also fill out an incident report.

Nurse Staffing Committee (NSC)

The Nurse Staffing Committee meets on the first Wednesdays of the month between 0745-0915. The committee reviews staffing matrix proposals and pilot projects; conducts yearly and biannual staffing matrix reviews; and reviews Staffing Concern Forms and WSNA Staffing Complaints/ADOs submitted by nurses. The next meeting will held on be July 6, 2022.

After Kim Finger's departure last year, Tess Golling volunteered to serve as the WSNA Co-Chair. However, Tess is moving to a new position and will no longer be able to serve. All of us thank Tess for stepping in! THANK YOU!

We are searching for a new Co-Chair. Is that you? Orientation will be provided.

We have gladly welcomed many new WSNA nurses who have agreed to represent your units in NSC. We want to thank all of the nurses who have served in the past and continue to serve on the NSC.

• Cheri Holmes with Geneva Slaughter as the alternate, ED
• Amanda Vander Ploeg, ICU
• Matt Strome and David (DJ) Jacobson (Cath Lab)
• Ben Perry with Kainui Rapaport as the alternate, 3^rd Surgical
• Celeste Seimears with Susan Stamnes as the alternate, 4-South
• Ryan Knight, Behavioral Health
• Tara Benson with Courtney VanDyk as the alternate, Cancer Center
• Alastair Hegan, Care Management
• Rachel Sturgeon, CRU
• Janice Nieboer, Special Care Nursery/CBC
• Carrie Anne Shusta with Holly Williams as the alternate, CDU
• Anson Chamblin, Critical Care Float Pool
• Jennifer Taylor-Mixon with Palmer Lamb as the alternate, Hospice House
• Jamie Shaw, Hospice Community
• Alyssa King, MCU
• Hannah Tanha, OR
• Ryan Willis with Kathleen Hall as the alternate, PACU
• Jake Weaver, PCU
• Short Stay Unit: Vacant (please email hwelander@wsna.org if you can attend on behalf of your colleagues)

If you would like to volunteer as a representative to the NSC, contact hwelander@wsna.org.

WSNA Executive Board Elections

Every three years, the membership at St. Joe's votes in a new slate of officers. The first step is to seek nominations from you for yourself or one of your colleagues. All nominees must agree to serve before they are placed on the ballot. Nomination forms will be arriving in the mail soon or you can complete the nomination online at https://wsna.to/SJMCLUnom2022.

If you use the hard copy form, please scan/photograph it and send to hwelander@wsna.org.

Nurse Techs Soon to be Hired

Management announced that they have been working in collaboration with Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College. Soon there will be positions for Nurse Techs who will be working on some units. We met with management on June 5 to get more information on their specific job duties and scopes of practice. We requested clarification on RNs being responsible for precepting. Per their response, the Nurse Techs will know what duties they will be able to complete. We have requested that the RNs be given job aids to avoid any confusion about specific tasks and patient care matters.

The Nurse Techs will be represented by SEIU 1199NW. Once they have taken their NCLEX and received their RN credential, they will become WSNA members. If questions come up, please bring those forward to your managers or one of the WSNA Officers.

Possible Restructure in Care Management

WSNA was notified that PeaceHealth plans to outsource all utilization review work starting August 1, 2022. Because utilization review is partly or solely the responsibility of Care Managers, we have requested information about this change. We will meet with management to discuss the situation. Layoffs may occur. At this time, we do not know more. Please offer your support to your colleagues working in Care Management.

PTO Cancellations

It has come to our attention that nurses who cancel PTO by the required date are being told that they cannot be placed back on their master schedule. We are looking into this matter. In the meantime, if this happens to you, please talk to your manager. It seems inconceivable that while management is offering double bonuses due to short staffing, schedulers refuse to place nurses back on the schedule.

WSNA Yard Sign Collection

We thank all of you that helped get yard signs posted. Now we need to collect them to store them for future events. If you see one, please pick it up and contact hwelander@wsna.org or tbarnes@wsna.org, and we can direct you to the person that will store them until next time.

PTO Donations—Thank you!

All of us are very thankful for the membership's support by donating PTO. The bargaining team attended 13 sessions during these last negotiations, which were 8+ hours long. Your support means so much to all of us. We also appreciate all of the support from the observers! Your presence made a huge difference. Thanks to Jana Travenshek for serving on the Negotiating Team!

In solidarity from your WSNA Officers,
Laura Bayes, Co-Chair; Tracy Pullar, Co-Communications; Darlyce Jerde, Health and Safety; Geri Fallacy, Secretary; Rhonda Tull, Grace Schackel, and Robin Cully, Grievance Officers

For other questions, please get in touch with WSNA Nurse Rep Hanna Welander, hwelander@wsna.org