We had two days of back-to-back bargaining this week. While both the Union and management are focused on recruiting and retaining nurses, we’re concerned that management’s proposals aren’t enough to keep and get nurses – drastic action is needed to improve conditions at Virginia Mason. Our proposals will get us there; we see management’s proposals as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as nurses continue to flee the ship for better pay and better staffing.

We were clear with management if they want to recruit and retain nurses they need to do better. VM has to be a place where nurses are safe, staffed at a level nurses can provide safe patient care, get their breaks, and are well compensated. 

Their Wage Proposal Is Not Enough

Management’s first counterproposal to our wages was to start with a 5% increase (up to 11.7% for some steps) the first year, and 2% each of the second and third year of the contract. This doesn’t even make us competitive in the local market, let alone do enough work to keep or bring nurses here.

We continue to propose aggressive wage increases: we proposed that nurses would see increases of 12-25% the first year to the ADN scale, and we proposed dollar increases the second and third year (like Children’s and Overlake). In short, dollar increases have an equitable impact on the bargaining unit – everyone would get the same dollar increases, but the impact would be more significant to a newer nurses making a lower wage, allowing them to be more likely to afford living in one of the most expensive cities in the US. We proposed $5.75/hour increase in the second year and $3.75/hour increase in the third year.

We additionally proposed Student Loan Repayment – where management would provide up to $400/month, untaxed, to nurses to pay down student loans. MultiCare and PeaceHealth (and other hospitals) have negotiated this benefit already – we underscored how big of a recruitment and retention tool this would be.

Both the Union and management are exploring a “compressed” wage scale that bulks up increases between steps. Join one of the virtual meetings to learn more about this (see info below).
Management proposed changes to Annual Leave regarding scheduling. We are still absorbing management’s plan and asked questions that management will respond to next time.

Virtual Union Meeting: Find out more about what’s happening and ask your bargaining team for the scoop

Join our first virtual Union Meeting next week! We want to discuss where we are in negotiations, what we want and our plans to get there. Questions and action are encouraged.
Tuesday 8/8 8a.m. and 8 p.m.

Thursday 8/10 at 6 p.m. after negotiations ends

Join the meeting at https://wsna.to/VMmeetAug2023.

Our next session will be on August 10, 2023.  Curious what happens? Want to see the process in action? Join us as an observer at negotiations by emailing Organizer Sam Scholl at sscholl@wsna.org. Make sure to wear the new WSNA button on that day and send pictures to us! Watch for further updates on what YOU can do to support your negotiation team and help with the fight to Save Virginia Mason.

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

(10) WSNA - Virginia Mason RNs | Facebook 
Become a member, make our voice stronger!

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.