Seattle Children’s nurses over the weekend ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement, averting a strike they had previously authorized by vote but ultimately did not want to begin. The agreement, which went into effect Monday, was reached after tense negotiations between hospital management and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), which represents 2,183 employees. WSNA is an influential union and professional organization that plays a key role in shaping labor standards and health-care policy in the state.
The new contract provides for substantial improvements in working conditions. A key provision is an average wage increase of at least 15% through February 2029. For most nurses, that means raises of $9.75 to $12.50 per hour, which by the end of the contract would put hourly rates at roughly $57 to $95. Night shift differentials were also increased. Previously, the hospital’s wages lagged 10%–40% behind those at other leading children’s hospitals on the West Coast, such as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, which help set the regional labor-market trends.
Negotiations proved exceptionally long and complex, taking about nine months and 36 rounds of talks. For the first time in the hospital’s history, the union had to conduct a readiness-to-strike assessment and hold a corresponding vote. Those involved in the negotiations say that this show of resolve ultimately helped break the stalemate.
Nurses who served on the bargaining team expressed enormous relief and pride in the outcome. “This is a great contract,” said Kara Yates, who has worked at the hospital for 16 years. “We accomplished a lot in a process that was incredibly difficult and required titanic effort, but we finally achieved something I’m really proud of.”
In addition to pay increases, the agreement includes important safety measures and protections for staff. Specifically, it formally requires the hospital to ensure the presence of two security officers in the psychiatric unit, in line with Washington state standards and accreditation requirements for high-acuity units intended to ensure rapid response and protection for patients and staff. Provisions for protected leave were also expanded in cases of workplace violence, work-related injuries, or the death of a patient.
During talks, nurses noted a marked change in the tone of negotiations and the hospital’s overall atmosphere compared with past years. In their view, after the COVID-19 pandemic management’s priorities shifted from patient and staff care toward a tougher “business approach,” which has been reflected, for example, in disciplinary practices around sick leave.
While acknowledging the financial challenges many health-care institutions face nationwide, nurses point to Seattle Children’s stable financial position. The hospital is one of the leading pediatric centers and research institutes in the Pacific Northwest and serves as a regional referral center for complex cases from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. the hospital’s financial reports show growth in operating income.
Now that the contract is signed, the union and management face the task of rebuilding mutual trust. “I’m also looking forward to moving ahead,” Yates said. “We’re very happy that we can now focus on that work instead of standing on the picket line.”
Based on: Seattle Children’s nurses ratify new 3-year contract, avoiding strike