After 17 grueling hours of negotiations in our twelfth bargaining session on Tuesday (extending into early Wednesday), we were unable to close the gap on a few critical issues, specifically meals & breaks and call. We have taken our direction from the surveys and responses that you have provided to us: safer staffing, guaranteed meal and rest breaks, a fair call scheduling process, and sincere efforts to improve workplace safety are paramount goals.

Every nurse at SJMC deserves uninterrupted meals and rest breaks without the Hospital expecting that our colleagues are burdened by doubling patient loads. The current call scheduling process is unsustainable, and management’s latest proposal would only make it worse by codifying the practice of using call to cover under-staffing – basically, running afoul of Washington’s mandatory overtime law. These aren’t just workplace inconveniences—they’re risks to patient care and nurse safety.

We are in the process of scheduling another date. We made meaningful progress on wages, Baylor shifts, credit for internationally experienced RNs, and callback pay, among other provisions, but we are not there yet. Read on for updates on the Hospital Staffing Committee, and what steps we’re taking to keep fighting for the contract nurses deserve.

We remain hopeful and we continue to stand strong.

Hospital Staffing Committee Update

The HSC met on Monday 11/18/24 to go over the previously rejected med surg and ED/CDU plans. We appreciated the progress made to clarify the staffing plans in the ED, and we unanimously agreed to approve the staffing plan. We were unable to approve the plans for CDU and med surg units as we cannot agree to plans that cut nursing staff and/or have plans that rely on the use of break buddies. Next HSC is 12/18/24. More updates to come.

Thank you, observers! 

Thanks to all our observers that stayed and showed management that we’re paying attention and holding them accountable. Stay tuned for the next bargaining date and more details on how  you can observe then!

In solidarity,
Your WSNA Officers and Negotiating Team
Emily Nollmeyer, local unit Co-Chair, Labor and Delivery, day shift
Carina Price, local unit Co-Chair, ICU, night shift
Matthew McGuire, Treasurer/Grievance officer, ED, day shift
Shelly Mead, Grievance officer, ED, day shift
Yunna Flenord, Grievance officer, ICU, night shift
Teresa Kindell, Membership Coordinator, 2S, day shift
Shannon Suchland, Secretary, Walter's OR, day shift
Sally Budack, Co-Secretary, SADU, day shift
Jessica Lenczycki, negotiating team member, Labor and Delivery, night shift
Kate Frazier, negotiating team member, 7^th floor, night shift
Sarah Guillen, negotiating team member, EP, day shift
Kat Jabasa, negotiating team member, Main OR, day shift

Questions or comments? Contact Rep Jared Richardson at jrichardson@wsna.org or Organizer Grace LaMonte at glamonte@wsna.org.