Nursing union at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma reaches tentative agreement

Nurses at Tacoma’s St. Joseph Medical Center could soon have a new collective bargaining agreement with higher wages, improved safety measures in the hospital and some staffing mandates.

The bargaining team for the nurses reached a tentative agreement with the hospital after months of bargaining. This week, all employees at the hospital represented by the Washington State Nurses Association have a chance to vote on the contract.

“ I am feeling super positive overall. Our response from the entire bargaining nursing unit has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Sarah Guillen, a registered nurse and a member of the bargaining team. She’s worked in the hospital for 15 years.