The Employer again came to the table with no further movement regarding their financial package, which remains a 0% wage increase and a one-year contract – even though we are aware the outgoing CEO will be receiving tens of thousands of dollars as an exit package.

We did reach tentative agreements on:

• Low Census language – to simplify and improve language around how nurses can be low censused.
• Preceptor language - to clarify what constitutes orientation v. what constitutes precepting (requiring payment of premium)

We are continuing to push on the following important issues:

• Successorship language in case WhidbeyHealth is ever sold. Would ensure any new owners would be bound by the CBA and that all your contractual rights continued to be honored.
• Staffing language to insure patient safety and breaks with regard to fatigue
• Workplace Violence language to ensure the Hospital takes adequate steps to prevent and respond to violence against nurses

Stay tuned for information regarding a local unit meeting in the next few weeks.

PTO donations reminder: We are counting on your help since every negotiation session we attend is unpaid. Our only options are to use our PTO or take No Pay to attend negotiations. Please support your team and donate. Per the agreement, one hour is the minimum you can donate. Thanks to those who have already made donations!

Will you be a PTO donation ambassador? Local Unit Chair Gwen Parrick reports that she hasn't heard from anyone regarding acting as an ambassador. If you are interested, contact her at gwensparrick@hotmail.com.

Also, the unit that raises the most PTO hours will get a prize (based on donations by unit/number of nurses, so smaller units have a just as good a shot at winning)!

Session #7 will take place Thursday, April 18. We have tentative future dates on May 14 and May 26. Stay tuned!

Gwen Parrick, RN, Quality, Local Unit Chair/ Jeremy Aaron, RN, Home Hospice, Local Unit Grievance Officer/ Laura Black, RN, Med Surg, Local Unit Grievance Officer/ Doreen Painter; RN, ED/ Jessica Shaffer, RN, ED/ Lucylyn Sinette, RN, Med Surg/ Michael Aube, RN, OR/ Sarah Clark, RN, OR/ Mary Meek, RN, Home Health/ Luka Cobb, RN, Home Hospice/ Bonnie Garcia, RN, PACU/ Ann Bell, RN, PACU/ Terri Williams, MS, RN, WSNA Nurse Rep (twilliams@wsna.org)/ Danielle Franco-Malone, Legal Counsel for WSNA