LOCAL
WSNA nurses at Children’s reach tentative 3-year agreement
SEATTLE (Oct. 25, 2016) — After more than 15 hours at the negotiation table on Oct. 20, the nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital represented by the Washington State Nurses Association and hospital management reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract. The tentative agreement includes wage hikes of 10 percent over three years, overtime pay for nurses in outpatient clinics, paid parental leave and more.
The WSNA-Seattle Children’s nurse negotiating team is recommending a “yes” vote on the contract, with union meetings being held Wednesday, Oct. 26.
The agreement represents a big win for the registered nurses at Seattle Children’s, who on Sept. 13 held an informational picket that filled the sidewalks in front of Children’s with more than 500 nurses and community supporters. In addition to annual wage increases, the team was successful in getting overtime pay for clinic nurses, who had been excluded from receiving overtime. Paid parental leave represents another big win; details of the new plan will be shared in the WSNA member meeting.
WSNA represents approximately 1, 455 registered nurses at Seattle Children’s. WSNA and Seattle Children’s management for 10 negotiating sessions over 5 ½ months, the final session with the help of a federal mediator, to reach this tentative agreement.
The Washington State Nurses Association is the leading voice and advocate for nurses in Washington state, providing union representation and trainings that allow nurses to reach their full professional potential and focus on caring for patients. WSNA represents more than 17,000 registered nurses who provide care in hospitals, clinics, schools and community and public health settings across the state.
► From KOMO News on Sept. 13 — Registered nurses picket Children’s Hospital for better wages, benefits — Hundreds of registered nurses held an informational picket outside Seattle Children’s Hospital on Tuesday to fight for better wages, better benefits and paid family leave. They claim short staffing has forced some patients to get care someplace else.
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