Seattle Children’s hires union-busting law firm

Nurses, facing down Morgan Lewis and a range of anti-union proposals from management, will rally September 30

SEATTLE, WA (September 23, 2025) — Nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital, represented by the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), are currently bargaining for a new contract, pushing hard for safer patient care, workplace violence prevention, and to protect their hard-earned benefits. Facing anti-union proposals, nurses are calling on the labor community to join them for an informational picket on Tuesday, September 30 outside the hospital.

Seattle Children’s management has brought in Morgan Lewis, one of the most prominent anti-union law firms in the country, to negotiate against the workers. Morgan Lewis is the firm used by anti-union employers such as Tesla, SpaceX and Amazon, and is representing employers in a lawsuit arguing that the National Labor Relations Board is unconstitutional.

Nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Photo: WSNA

The 2,100 WSNA-represented nurses at Children’s are fighting significant anti-union proposals from Seattle Children’s that include eliminating long-standing contract guarantees like union security, dues deductions from paychecks, and employer-paid health premiums.

Beyond defending against the employer’s anti-union tactics, nurses are proactively fighting for greater protections for nurses and patients against workplace violence, including moving swiftly on a pilot program to screen for weapons and enhancing security on the Psychiatric and Behavioral Health Unit; dedicated relief nurses so that staff can take the breaks they are legally entitled to without compromising patient care; higher wages, as pay at Seattle Children’s falls behind many other West Coast children’s hospitals; and increased sick leave accrual so that nurses are able to take sick time without the fear of discipline or losing their jobs.

Per WSNA, Seattle Children’s Hospital is the wealthiest and most profitable large hospital system in Washington, with a profit margin of 14% in the 2024 fiscal year and 13% in 2025 through the third quarter. That’s quite the cushion against future uncertainty in the healthcare industry.

TAKE A STAND: Join the informational picket Sept. 30 outside the Seattle Children’s (4800 Sand Point Way in Seattle) from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., joined by union siblings and supporters. A rally is planned for 11:30 a.m.