Hundreds of nurses turned out for yesterday’s picket pledge kick-off – and that was just the start!

April Staffing Committee

Over 220 nurses came to the hospital staffing committee today. Management was caught flatfooted on these well-known issues that have left unaddressed for too long:

• Falls related to short staffing (where management didn’t offer bonuses to get enough nurses).
• Inability to staff on nights related to retention issues.
• Prescheduled Mandatory Call used to cover known holes in the schedule.
• Flex nurses can’t provide breaks because they are pulled and floated.

 While we have offered solutions to these issues both in Staffing Committee today and in bargaining, management’s response was:

• To claim they could not have had the foresight to staff up for flu season.
• Though they had the foresight to ask for increased capacity from the state, they didn’t staff up for flu season.
• To blamed staff for sick calls during the flu season.
• To say there isn’t a problem because they don’t have a solution.

We have a Solution! Picket Pledges!

We have reasonable solutions to all these problems: fair wages, equitable health coverage, safe staffing, and real break coverage. While the excuses may be different at the bargaining table and at Staffing Committee, PeaceHealth has not provided any realistic solutions to the problems nurses face every day. NOW we need to stand strong together, and show PeaceHealth that our patients’ needs and our own needs must be met!

We are gearing up for an informational picket, and now is the time for all St. Joe’s nurses who demand better to be united. Find a picket assessor and tell them that you want in! Ask a member of your bargaining team, your unit rep, or WSNA Organizer Sam at sscholl@wsna.org or WSNA Nurse Rep Jared at jrichardson@wsna.org if you are having trouble finding an assessor. We will plug you in! Send us a picture of you and the reason you want to picket for our socials as well!

Stay tuned for a picket FAQ!

To get connected, ask questions or discuss problems:

We are back at the table with Management on April 17 and 18. Our strength is in our unity.

What else can I do?

• Meet with us:

Join us to talk about what’s next at the virtual sip-and-chat on Monday, April 7, at 1630 or stop by our usual cafeteria hours from 1130-1530 on Tuesday, April 8.

Sip and Chat link

• Meet with management:

Thursday April 10, 1700-1800

PeaceHealth St Luke’s Health Education Center

3333 Squalicum Parkway

Management is asking people to come ask questions. We should show up and ask them questions.

• Follow us on Instagram, wear your WSNA shirt and send us pics to share:

https://www.instagram.com/wsna_stjobell

•  Picket Sign Making Party:

Location, date and time TBD stay tuned.

In solidarity,
Laura Bayes, Robin Cully, Jenn Engelhart, Rhonda Tull, Tracy Pullar, Amber Pouley, Jen Hampton, Kristin Malmo, Errin Hull, and Kelly Carroll

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jared Richardson at jrichardson@wsna.org.