First contract at Seattle Virginia Mason

After unionizing in 2024, healthcare workers negotiated a standard-setting first contract

SEATTLE, WA (July 16, 2025) — More than 1,100 patient care, service, and tech healthcare workers at Seattle’s Virginia Mason hospital have ratified their first union contract, reports SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

Workers won their union in January of 2024. Before they organized, Virginia Mason was the only hospital in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood — colloquially known as ‘Pill-Hill’ for it’s concentration of medical facilities — where non-nurse job classes were not unionized.

Seattle Virginia Mason healthcare workers. Photo: SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

Workers bargained for over a year to secure a contact, escalating to informational pickets and even voting to authorize a seven-day strike. But in the end, after a final negotiating session lasting over 24 hours, workers secured significant contract wins, including a transparent and equitable wage scale, experience review for accurate wage scale placement, workplace safety and violence prevention language, staffing improvements, enforceable rights through the grievance process, and more.

SEIU Healthcare 199NW credits workers’ unity — with strong support from community members and elected officials  — for winning an agreement that will allow them to provide Seattle the best quality patient care.

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW represents thousands of healthcare workers across Washington state. Learn more at seiu1199nw.org.