Approximately 1,000 nurses from Seattle Children’s Hospital conducted informational pickets Tuesday, demanding improved workplace safety measures, adequate staffing, and increased compensation during ongoing contract negotiations.
The morning and afternoon rallies drew support from labor leaders and elected officials as nurses represented by the Washington State Nurses Association pressed for changes they say are essential for safe patient care and worker protection.
Annika Hoogestraat, a registered nurse with two decades at the hospital and current bargaining team member, said frustration has mounted over the hospital’s negotiating stance. “People are hungry. They are tired of the actions that Seattle Children’s is taking,” Hoogestraat stated.
Workplace violence prevention represents a primary concern for nursing staff. The union is urging the hospital to implement a pilot program screening for weapons at entry points and enhance security at the Psychiatric and Behavioral Health Unit.
“In the last 16 months, we’ve had over 900 assaults in our hospital on staff, and more than 600 have happened in the psych unit,” Hoogestraat said. “We just want them to be responsible for the things they are exposing our nurses to, that they wouldn’t have been exposed to if they were not at work that day.”
Seattle Children’s Hospital has not confirmed the assault figures cited by the union.
Staffing issues also drive the contract dispute. Not all units have dedicated break nurses, meaning patient loads can become excessive when staff take legally mandated rest periods. Nurses argue that dedicated relief staff would ensure both proper rest and consistent patient care.
“It is so important for us, all our nurses, but especially on our unit, to have break nurses so we can not only take care of ourselves but also make sure our patients are getting the care that they need,” said Lauren Thebner, an RN in the hematology and oncology unit.
The union is also seeking higher wages and increased sick time accrual.
The Washington State Nurses Association represents more than 2,100 nurses at Children’s. The union stated that Seattle Children’s hired Morgan Lewis, which WSNA characterizes as one of the nation’s most prominent anti-union law firms, to oversee negotiations.
“This is an internationally known anti-union busting attorney firm,” Hoogestraat said. “It’s focused on degrading our contract. They are trying to take away multiple things.”
A Seattle Children’s spokesperson emphasized the hospital’s commitment to competitive compensation in the Seattle-Tacoma market and said the picket did not impact patient care.
“Nurses at Children’s are vital members of the team, and we all agree that putting patients first is our highest priority. While we cannot share the details of ongoing negotiations, we are committed to working collaboratively with WSNA in order to reach a fair agreement as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said.
Two weeks ago, Seattle Children’s announced 154 employee layoffs and elimination of 350 open positions, citing reduced state and federal funding. The cuts, affecting approximately 1.5% of the workforce, do not impact clinical or direct patient care staff, with separations expected in mid-November.
