We met for our seventh session on August 10, 2023.  We received management’s second wage proposal and are carefully reviewing the information.  It was modestly better but isn’t where it needs to be yet.

We spent a significant amount of time on language proposals regarding safe staffing standards.  Our goal is to ensure that there are relief or flex nurses for rest and meal breaks.

WSNA Cross Hospital Collaboration

We met with Jared Richardson who was part of the Good Samaritan bargaining team. Good Sam just wrapped up an excellent contract after 19 sessions, that included threats of punishment to those who wore WSNA shirts, a vote of no confidence, a picket, federal mediators, ghoulish managers and an overwhelmingly affirmative strike vote. Their contract includes, protections against team nurse, break nurses, a free charge and float for every unit outside of their matrices and excellent wages. Jared was kind enough to share his experience and what it took to get that contract. We want to thank him for the cross WSNA collaboration and his generous offer to keep talking as long as it takes for us to win too. That’s Jared with the proud member sign!

GET. EN. GAGED.

One thing Jared emphasized was the activism of the nurses in the hospital and community while his worked the negotiation table. We want to get a strong contract and we need you all to step up to get it. Here are some things you can do.

Sign the Safety Petition

We launched our safety petition this week; we need every nurse to who can sign to sign. Kim A will be in the Cafeteria August 11 from 12-1300 for sure. The rest of the bargaining team (see our names and units in the signature) will be floating around at varied times and locations until the work is finished. Find us and sign in Solidarity! We always welcome more hands to circulate the pages and get everyone’s signatures, so step up!

Observe Bargaining

Come Watch a negotiation session! Learn what we are doing , share it with others and keep management honest. Our final negotiation days prior to the contract expiring are: August 23, 24, 30, or 31. Email or text Organizer Sam Scholl to come observe: sscholl@wsna.org, 425-606-7036.

Become a member, Strengthen our position, our union, and nursing as a whole!

Find us on Instagram, post your solidarity pics!
https://www.instagram.com/vmfhbargaining_unit

Join our private Facebook group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/virginiamasonrns

In solidarity,
The Bargaining Team
Kim Adekoya, ER; Sam Asencio, WSNA Treasurer and OR; Martha Bermeo, C8; Hannah Collins-Lewis, C9; Jane Hill Littlejohn, WSNA Chair and Resource Nurse; Art Laycock, IV; Kaylyn Lesser, ER Aaron Persinger, C17; Michael Salters, CCU; Kim Travis-Carter, ED; Donna Watts, Birth Center; Allison Wortman, J5 Recovery

Questions or comments, please contact your Nurse Representative, Barbara Friesen bfriesen@wsna.org.