New officer and other updates
Posted Feb 3, 2025
We have a new WSNA Co-Chair!
Congratulations Kai Rapaport on your appointment.
Kai is excited to serve as your Co-Chair officer of our local WSNA unit. He is a Tuberculosis Case Manager and an SSP Nurse. Kai comes with prior experience organizing and advocating with WSNA at a local hospital. While he knows there are different challenges and opportunities with our work, he’s looking forward to learning from all his colleagues. He will also be working with the other officers Lela, Nicole, and Julie on a survey to help us understand what nurses would like to see in the next contract.
One of the reasons Kai appreciates being in a union is the ability to negotiate for better working conditions. While he is not working, Kai likes to cook, bike, and eat dim sum🥟. Kai works primarily out of Girard and can be reached by email about union matters at: kainui98@gmail.com.
Paid education benefits
Article 8.6 of our WSNA contract provides at least 4 days of paid education leave each year for work-related conferences and training programs. We have our WSNA convention coming up that would qualify for these educational hours. If you would like to read the complete article in our contract, please see 8.6 Professional Leave.
WSNA's 2025 Convention, Forward Together, will address the most pressing issues facing nurses today: safe staffing, workplace violence prevention, and health equity.
Come build your power, learn your rights, and join with nurses who understand exactly what you're going through. You'll leave with strategies to stand strong and create positive change in your workplace. You'll hear from inspiring speakers and have the opportunity to earn up to 10.5 CNE. This is also a time to connect with nurses from across the state who share your determination to make things better for our profession.
WSNA's General Assembly will be integrated throughout the event as we consider resolutions to address our top issues and adopt bylaws changes. Located in the heart of downtown Tacoma, the Greater Tacoma Convention Center is a bright, modern venue for focused learning and connecting with colleagues. With time built in between sessions to rest and recharge, it's the perfect setting for three important days together.
WSNA Local Unit Meetings
We held a Local Unit Meeting Thursday, January 30, 2025 with the WSNA Local Unit Officers, members, and nurse rep. It was a good meeting with a lot of discussion about goals for the upcoming year. It was unanimously decided to hold Local Unit Meetings monthly on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 11:30 – 12:30. All the meetings will have a virtual Teams option, and every 3rd month they will be hybrid, in-person with the virtual option.
The in-person meetings will be held at the Civic Building in the Admin Conference Room. 322 N. Commercial St. Bellingham, WA 98225 on the following dates:
- March 20, 2025
- June 19, 2025
- Sept 18, 2025
- Dec 18, 2025
We look forward to building a strong united bargaining unit!
Meeting ID: 291 142 227 580
In solidarity,
WSNA Local Unit Officers:
Nicole Miller – Co-chair
Kai Rapaport – Co-chair
Lela Riherd – Treasurer
Julie McElroy - Grievance
Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Barbara Friesen at bfriesen@wsna.org or 206-575-7979 ext. 3056.