Incentive shifts are back
The employer has requested that we reinstate the Incentive Shift MOU as motivator for RNs to consider picking up shifts where staffing is currently not meeting core needs.

The terms are the same as previous Incentive MOU adding that the employer will:

• Attempt to post Incentive Shifts within 5 days of final schedule
• Agree that once scheduled, an incentive shift will not be cancelled and will be treated like a regularly scheduled shift
• Agree to offer incentive shifts for shifts less than 8 hours in length

Please note that these Incentive Shifts have started house wide. Be sure to document any incentive shift you take in writing so that it does not become an issue down the line.

We recognize the long hours and dedication that all of you are giving each and every day!

Vaccination mandate deadlines approaching
Time is running out to meet the Oct. 18 deadline in the Governor’s vaccination requirement for health care workers. We encourage you to plan ahead to ensure you meet this requirement or follow your facility’s process and deadlines for obtaining a medical or religious exemption.

These deadlines vary by the type of vaccine. Please note that Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccines are in short supply in Washington state and may not be available.

Here are the deadlines you need to know to meet the “fully vaccinated” requirements:

• Sept. 6 - Last day you can receive the Moderna vaccine and still be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 (because of the waiting period). This assumes you will get your second dose exactly four weeks after Sept. 6, which may not be possible.
• Sept. 13 - Last day you can receive the Pfizer vaccine and still be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 (because of the waiting period). This assumes you will get your second dose exactly three weeks after Sept. 13, which may not be possible.
• Oct 4 - Last day for J&J vaccine (if available) or second shot of Pfizer vaccine or Moderna vaccine (because of the 14-day waiting period to be considered fully vaccinated).
• Oct 18 - Date by which health care workers are required to be fully vaccinated under the Governor’s order.

WSNA has been negotiating an MOU around the impacts of this Vaccine mandate and continues to exchange proposals with the employer. We are working to protect all represented RNs through these unprecedented times.

Safety around campus
I am sure that you have received several notifications from WSNA as well as the employer regarding 2 car jackings and an armed robbery that have taken place at UWMC Montlake. WSNA has demanded that employer ramp up security patrol and seek out a comprehensive safety assessment. The employer has put several safety measures into place including increased lighting, transport services, removal of some shrubbery to eliminate spaces to hide etc. We will continue to work with the employer to ensure the safety of all UWMC Staff. If you have areas of concern or suggestions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Ed Zercher at ezercher@wsna.org.

Wage and Premium errors
Since the ratification of your new WSNA/UWMC contract, the Employer is working to remedy premium and wage change omissions.

All wages and Premiums associated with our WSNA Collective Bargaining Agreement have been verified to be retroactive to July 1, 2021. This includes wages, differentials and premiums such as Rest Between Shifts.

Staffing Complaint Forms/ADOs
We encourage RNs to submit ADO/Staffing Complaint forms anytime your experience short staffing. This establishes patterns and creates traceable documentation of your short staffing, protecting your nursing license along the way. The online link to the Short Staffing/ADO form can be found below.

Plati­tudes and conclu­sions:
Protect your license, file an ADO: https://​www​.wsna​.org/ado
Reasons to file an ADO: https://​www​.wsna​.org/union/ado

If you had Mandatory Overtime, file an L&I complaint: https://​secure​.lni​.wa​.gov/​w​a​g​e​c​o​mplaint/#/

If you have patient safety concerns, file a DOH Complaint: https://​fortress​.wa​.gov/​d​o​h​/​p​r​o​v​i​d​e​r​c​r​e​d​e​n​t​i​a​l​s​e​a​r​c​h​/​C​o​m​p​l​a​i​n​t​I​n​t​a​k​eForm.aspx

Please contact our WSNA Nurse Rep Ed Zercher for anything at ezercher@wsna.org

Please let our WSNA Organizer Will Nesper (wnesper@wsna.org) know if you want to be more involved.

If you are not already, please consider becoming a member. It is always a bad time to ask and always impor­tant to join. Get more infor­ma­tion at https://​www​.wsna​.org/​m​e​m​b​e​r​s​h​i​p​/​a​p​p​l​i​c​a​tion/union.