We met on January 6, 2021, for our third negoti­a­tion session. We reached a tenta­tive agree­ment!

Despite the county’s financial difficulties, we succeeded in securing a minimum 1.25% wage increase for 2022. Should any other union-represented employees receive a higher wage increase in 2022, we have a reopener clause so that we can attempt to negotiate a higher wage increase. Should any other non-represented employees receive a higher wage increase in 2022, we would automatically receive the same wage increase.

WINS:

• A great health care benefits package for 2021-2022.
• Increased the vacation carryover cap into 2021
• This will be a two-year agreement, 2021-2022.
• Succeeded in increasing the RN wage range from 40 to 41, a 7% increase.
• The 0.9 FTE pilot project is now permanent.
• Added language clarifying how overtime is paid for part-time staff.
• For the duration of the COVID pandemic, agreed that the HD can hire temporary PHN staff to work more than 1040 hours and receive benefits. This is to assure that staff are not working too much overtime and have an opportunity to take time off.

NEXT NEGOTIATIONS:

• We fought hard to get a certification premium in this contract for nurses who are certified interpreters, but the county absolutely could not agree in their current financial condition.
• We continue our push to get parity (year-for-year credit) language but the county is not in a position to agree now.

We recommend a YES vote. Details about education sessions and the vote will be announced shortly.

In Unity from your WSNA Negotiating Team and Co-Chairs,

Erin Schuldt and Julie Rose

For questions, please contact WSNA Nurse Rep, Hanna Welander at hwelander@wsna.org or (206) 575-7979, Ext. 3035.