Nurses at Seattle Children’s demand safe staffing, fair wages

SEATTLE (Aug. 10, 2022) — More than 700 nurses who work at Seattle Children’s and their supporters rallied and held informational pickets outside the hospital on Tuesday. The nurses, who are represented by the Washington State Nurses Association, expressed their frustration with slow contract negotiations and demanded wage increases that respect their work and attract and retain nurses at the short-staffed facility.

From east to west, these @myWSNA nurses at @seattlechildren are the best. The picket is still going strong. Come show your support! https://t.co/tPDy4P8slI #respectchildrensnurses pic.twitter.com/Nrd1UstDbN

— WSNA (@myWSNA) August 9, 2022

“I want to sincerely thank you for everything you’ve done to keep our community healthy and safe during this pandemic,” Washington State Labor Council President Larry Brown told the nurses on Tuesday. “But I’ll spare you the platitudes about being ‘heroes’ and all that. I know the best way to thank you is to help you get a good contract — one that truly demonstrates your value and pays you what you’re worth!”

Brown told them that the 550,000 rank-and-file union members represented by WSLC “have got your back.”

The nurses’ WSNA bargaining committee is scheduled to return to the bargaining table with hospital management on Wednesday and Thursday.

Here are some photos from Tuesday’s pickets:

WSNA Executive Director David Keepnews, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN

The bosses no likey.

See more pics and video on WSNA’s Facebook and Twitter feeds @MyWSNA.

► From the Seattle Times — Seattle Children’s hospital nurses picket for better wages, working conditions — Chants, picket signs and honking filled the 41st Avenue Northeast and Sand Point Way Northeast intersection in front of Seattle Children’s hospital Tuesday. Nurses at the pediatric hospital, represented by the Washington State Nurses Association, held an informational picket for higher wages amid a staffing shortage. Edna Cortez, who works in the hospital’s recovery room and is the co-chair of the union’s bargaining committee, said Seattle Children’s hospital needs to invest in its permanent nursing staff rather than hiring contract nurses — known as travel nurses. They are typically paid higher wages than permanent staff and hired to temporarily fill in during staffing shortages. Cortez said:

“I’ve met many nurses, who have way less experienced than me, making two to four times more money than I do. That’s why a lot of our staff are leaving to become travelers to make a better living.”