LOCAL
Show your support for nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital
Sign petition urging hospital to offer fair pay, safe staffing
SEATTLE (June 23, 2022) — Nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital represented by the Washington State Nurses Association are struggling to get a new contract that attracts and retains healthcare staff sufficient for quality patient care. Worse, this is happening at a time that the union says Children’s is down by an estimated 395 nurses — a 19 percent vacancy rate.
After spending millions on “traveler nurses” during the pandemic, the WSNA says hospital administration is failing to offer sufficient wages to its own staff nurses. Hospital executives are also rejecting WSNA proposals on shift differentials and assistance with student loan repayment, among other things.
Between October 2021 and March 2022, the WSNA reports that Children’s paid the equivalent of an estimated 44 percent of its staff nurse payroll to traveler nurses.
“Traveler nurses have been a godsend, but if this isn’t a textbook example of penny wise, pound foolish…” wrote the WSNA in its latest bargaining update to Children’s nurses. “Pay staff nurses better and in a more equitable manner. Higher wages will attract and retain long-term nurses who live in our communities and who are familiar with this hospital and our patients. Higher wages at SCH translate to an investment in staff, an investment in our communities, and an investment in our patients.”
Please sign the WSNA petition today to show solidarity with the nurses at Seattle Children’s.