MEDIA RELEASE: Providence Sacred Heart nurses vote to authorize strike

SPOKANE, Wash – After two days of voting, Sacred Heart members of the Washington State Nurses Association voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.

The vast majority of the 1,900 Sacred Heart registered nurses turned out for the vote. Nurses are sending a loud and clear message to Providence that they are willing to do whatever it takes to get a fair contract, including going on strike.

When a strike is called, WSNA will give the legally required 10-days’ notice to Providence Sacred Heart prior to the strike.

Nurses are fighting for safe staffing and working conditions that will allow them to give the very best care to their families and patients. Meanwhile, Providence seeks to slash nurses’ earned benefits, including sick time, even as its multi-state system is collecting record profits and giving extravagant raises to executives.

Sacred Heart nurses are standing up in the face of troubling and illegal unfair labor practices on Providence’s part, including interfering with workers’ right to concerted activity and failing to bargain in good faith.

Sacred Heart nurses go back to the bargaining table on Oct. 29 resolved to continue fighting for a contract that will protect their families, their patients and their community.

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