WSNA is aware of the communication Cindy Hecker sent out to RNs on Friday afternoon October 11.

Here are some facts you should know:

Nope, WSNA did not disagree to waivers for RNs regarding second meal periods

Nope, WSNA did not disagree that RNs could combine a meal and a break

Nope, WSNA did not agree to the employer’s initial proposal that aspired to only pay for minutes missed in a break or meal vs the entire break or meal as prescribed in the new RCW

Nope, WSNA did not agree that intermittent breaks were sufficient as part of the employer’s initial proposal.

The communication from the employer is not wholly accurate.  WSNA disagrees with the employer's interpretation of the recent changes in RCWs regarding meal and rest break do's and don'ts.

SNA understands that the law affords for a combined meal and break.  WSNA believes this should happen at the RNs discretion.

WSNA believes that the employer should have daily waivers for a second meal period, and no employee should be required to stay for an extra 30 unless they personally choose to take a second meal period (This is only for shifts in excess of 10 hours).

WSNA is working with legal counsel and Labor and Industries to make sure the employer abides minimally by the RCW as written, and negotiate for better.

Just as an FYI....the employer's initial proposal was filled with verbiage about the parties agreeing to not recognize the law and only paying portions of missed meals and breaks.....  Of course we could never agree with such a proposal.

The letter from Cindy Hecker appears to be part of the employer's effort to deflect from their own very poor decisions.

WSNA is committed to negotiating the best language for our RNs, and we know the other unions are equally committed to their members. UW has elected to take it out on the RNs and spin it that WSNA is the villain here.

 Please bear with us as we work to sort this out ASAP.

We want RNs to have flexibility in taking meals and breaks as they wish, within the new benefits afforded by the RCW and within the confines of the CBA and the law.

In solidarity,
Your officers:

UW Medical Center Northwest - 
Elizabeth Gebretsadik, Chair
Kaitlyn Fochs, Vice Chair
Suzanne Taylor, Secretary/Treasurer
Mary Stupek, Membership Officer
Josh Black, Local Unit Leader

UW Medical Center Montlake - 
Chris Jakubowski, Chair
Teresa Wren, Co-Chair
Doug Harper, Secretary/Treasurer
Janet O. Bower, Grievance Officer
Casey Brown, Grievance Officer
Claire Rovang, Membership Officer

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your nurse representative:

Ed Zercher (ML) EZercher@WSNA.org    
Stephenie Troftgruben (NW) STroftgruben@WSNA.org