SPOKANE, Wash. – Nurses at Sacred Heart announced Thursday they have reached a tentative agreement with hospital management.
The Washington State Nurses Association is recommending a 'yes' vote for the new deal. A vote has not yet been scheduled. WSNA leader said the team has gone through 17 bargaining sessions, including seven with the assistance of a Federal mediator.
WSNA
leaders said they want safe nurse staffing at the hospital so they can provide high quality care to their patients. They also want predictability in their benefits, something they say the hospital has taken away. Officials with WSNA said they have proposed that staffing levels be maintained so nurses can have meal and rest breaks. They also want nurses to be able to utilize time off from work.
WSNA
leader said this is the first time they have been able to get a commitment from the hospital to provide additional staffing to address issues that have been raised by nurses.
