Walla Walla Veterans Home

What's going on at work? We want to hear from you.
Please come with your questions and concerns.

Date: Oct.1, 2019
Time: 1:30-3 p.m.
Where: The Classroom

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Debi Bessmer at
dbessmer@wsna.org or 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3112.

What’s going on at work? We want to hear from you. Please come with your question and concerns.

When: June 26, 2019
Time: 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Where: the Classroom

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Debi Bessmer. BSN, RN, at 1-800-231-8482 ext 3112 or dbessmer@wsna.org.

Not getting your breaks? Working short staffed? Floating to areas without proper orientation? Fill out a Staffing Complaint / Assignment Despite Objection form today.

WSNA is excited to announce that online ADO forms are finally here!

• Nurses are standing together for safe staffing andcompleting a Staffing Complaint/ADO form is the first step.
• This new online form can be accessed through your phone making it simple and quick.
• Copies of the submitted online form will automatically be sent to you, your local unit chair, co/vice chair, staffing committee co-chairs, WSNA nurse rep and manager (if you designate).

You can find the online form at wsna.org/ADO. For any questions, your nurse representative is here to help. Contact WSNA Nurse Rep Debi Bessmer, BSN, RN at dbessmer@wsna.org or at 206-575-7979, ext. 3112.

What's going on at work? We want to hear from you.

Please come with your questions and concerns.

When: April 3, 2019
Time: 1330-1500
Where: Hudson House

I hope to see you then!

Debi Bessmer BSN,RN

WSNA Nurse Rep

1-800-231-8482, ext. 3112

dbessmer@wsna.org

We will update you on where we are with our current meal breaks grievance and if you have any questions/concerns, we want to hear from you.

Date: Jan. 31
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Where: Community Classroom

Debi Bessmer BSN, RN
WSNA Nurse Rep
1-800-231-8482, ext. 3112
dbessmer@wsna.org

On Oct. 30, our Labor Management Committee met with management and discussed several issues. We believe we were able to have productive conversations that will be helpful for both parties involved.

Topics discussed were:

1. Payroll issues – Nurses having to sign off if a CNA was present or not.
   It was decided that nurses are to only sign off on what they see/witness. There will be no retaliation for this. Both parties do not want nurses to falsify any documentation.
2. Part-time nurses have to document when they leave and return for lunch on their timecards, but full-time nurses do not
   It was communicated to us that this is a timecard issue that applies to all VA’s. There is simply no way around it according to management.
3. Mandatory Ed Day – Nurses need to have this scheduled into their schedule. They otherwise are not able to get it done due to workload demands.
   Management as told us, if nurses are not able to get the requirements done while at work, to communicate this to the DNS and time will be arranged for help with this.
4. Training on workplace violence – How is this done?
   There is no formal training as of yet, but management was very receptive to pursuing this in the future.

Please contact a Labor Management Committee member for more details about the meeting: Dana Bertran, RN and Renee Clark, RN.

There is still one more open space for a nurse to sit on the Labor Management Committee. If you are interested, please let one of your WSNA local unit officers know!

The next Labor Management meeting will be on Jan. 31, 2019 at 11 a.m.

Dear WSNA nurses,

WSNA Nurse Rep Debi Bessmer, BSN, RN will be the WSNA/Walla Walla Veterans Home Representative beginning Nov. 1. Debi comes with experience and years of practice. We know you will all welcome her and together, you will continue to make positive changes for Walla Walla nurses!

I look forward to continuing the unity at other WSNA facilities, and I stand with you in solidarity – always.

Debi can be reached at dbessmer@wsna.org or at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3112.

Go team,

Jaclyn Perkins, BSN, RN
WSNA Nurse Rep

The 2019-2021 Coalition Contract has been ratified by your bargaining units and the rest of the Coalition.

The Association would like to thank everyone who attended the vote. The Governor now has the 2019-2021 Coalition Contract for his review. After his review, the Governor will then present your Contract to the Legislature and the decision to implement will be decided during the 2019 Legislative Session. Any updates and Association asks will be sent through WSNA electronic or USPS mailings and posted on your local unit webpage. So please keep current and be prepared to act.

Are you not receiving Association communications? Please contact the Association at membership@wsna.org or call 1 (800) 231-8482 to add or update your contact information.

Thanks to those who voted! Congratulations to all!

WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins, BSN, RN, 1 800 231-8482, ext. 3118, jperkins@wsna.org

We have a Tentative Contract Agreement and a Tentative Benefits Agreement!

The Coalition Negotiating Teams has succeeded in getting a Tentative Contract Agreement and Tentative Benefits Agreement with the State of Washington. The coalition negotiating team worked extremely hard in negotiating these Tentative Agreements and are recommending a YES vote on both the Contract and the Benefits Agreements. Please come and vote. The extended/redline version of the WSNA/State of Washington Tentative Agreements will be available for you to review during voting hours.

When: Sept. 25, 2018
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Where: Community classroom

Only members in good standing are eligible to vote.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins at 1 (800) 231-8482, ext. 3118. or at jperkins@wsna.org.

Contract negotiations

The State and the Coalition have met four more times for contract negotiations and we have made progress in reaching some tentative agreements. At our last meeting on July 25, each coalition group met individually with the State’s lead negotiator, each Agency’s management representative and representatives from the Office of Financial Management to discuss individual economic proposals. Hopefully at our next scheduled contract negotiations on Aug. 22, the State will be ready with their response to these economic proposals. Stay tuned!

For any questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3118 or at jperkins@wsna.org.

Health benefits bargaining to begin

The State and the Coalition of Unions Health Benefits bargaining is to begin on Aug. 3. This session will be at the South Sound Manor (455 North St. SE, Tumwater, WA 98501). The Coalition of Unions will pre-meet in the McElroy room from 8:30 – 11 a.m. and bargaining with the State will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the same room.

The second bargaining session will be Aug. 10, 2018. Location is still to be determined.

Please frequent the local unit webpage for updates and meeting locations.

Your voice is needed at this bargaining table. If you are interested in being part of this bargaining, please contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3118 or at jperkins@wsna.org.

The May 23, 2018 contract negotiations were cancelled due to the State needing more time to ready their proposals. Our next contract negotiations date is June 20 and 21. Stay tuned!

Please frequent the WSNA/Walla Walla Veterans Home Local Unit webpage for possible updated communications.

If you have any questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins at 1-800-231-8482 ext. 3118 or at jperkins@wsna.org.

The first day of the 2019-2021 contract negotiations is complete! On May 9, 2018, we presented and explained our coalition contract proposals to management.  

Our next contract negotiation date is: May 23, 2018. 

Stay tuned!

Please frequent the WSNA/Walla Walla Veterans Home Local Unit webpage for possible updated communications. If you have any questions, contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins at 1-800-231-8482, ext. 3118 or jperkins@wsna.org.