Nurses Week Recap

We had an amazing Nurses Week including 14 lucky nurses who won a union themed etched pint glass and a $50 gift card to Cinemark. We also had 40 nurses who won $10 to Starbucks. If you haven’t collected your prize yet, or are not sure if you won, please check your personal email for an email from jrichardson@wsna.org.

There was also a union board design contest. We had incredible entries from several units, and the creativity put on display was astounding. By popular vote the winners were Walter’s OR and Main PACU. They won a Nespresso Coffee Maker for their units. Great job!! If your unit needs to update its bulletin board with our current list of officers, ADO forms, etc., reach out to glamonte@wsna.org.

In addition to our lucky winners, we had an amazing catered breakfast. It was awesome seeing all the smiling faces as we brought breakfast burritos around the units. Nurses Week is all about the nurses, and the best part of our jobs.

Negotiations

It is almost time for negotiations, and the local unit officers will be making the final decision on the negotiation team on 6/3. We strive for a diverse team that represents as many units, shifts, and backgrounds as possible. We have contacted those who indicated they are interested in being on the team in their pre-negotiation survey. If you are interested in being on the negotiating team there is still time to throw your hat in the ring. We are especially looking for more representation from the med-surg units. Please contact your nurse rep at jrichardson@wsna.org for more information.

Negotiations will begin in late Summer, but prep sessions will begin in June.

Hospital Staffing Committee

We have been working diligently to transition the Nursing Staffing Committee to the Hospital Staffing Committee to comply with changes in the law. The team has been working hard to create a charter that is fair and ensures the rights of the union workers are protected. We expect the charter to be completed soon and move forward with the new HSC.

We are grateful for the collaboration we have received from both management and SEIU in working to make the HSC an effective and efficient committee. This includes creating extra meetings to work through the backlog of ADOs. If you are interested in being an alternate member on the HSC, please contact a local unit officer or your nurse rep.

Speaking of ADOs

We have seen a significant uptick in ADOs especially from the PCU and ICU units. Thank you for filling out ADOs and know that we see them, and we are taking them to management and the HSC. We will also be using them at the negotiating table to make sure management knows that staffing is still a serious concern. Please keep filling out ADOs anytime you miss a meal/break, do not have the proper staff including non-RN staff, or have other concerns such as faulty equipment or security issues.

Thank you to all the incredible WSNA nurse at St Joe’s that work hard to make our community a better place for all. We see you; we appreciate you, and we look forward to continuing to fight side by side with you.

In Solidarity,

Emily Nollmeyer, Co-Chair 
Matthew McGuire, Co-Chair 
Sally Budack, Co-Secretary 
Shannon Suchland, Co-Secretary 
Shelly Mead, Grievance Officer 
Yunna Flenord, Grievance Officer 
Carina Price, Membership Officer 
Teresa Kindell, Membership Coordinator

You can contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jared Richardson, BSN, RN, at jrichardson@wsna.org or WSNA Organizer Grace LaMonte at glamonte@wsna.org.