Seattle Children’s nurses ratify new 3‑year contract, avoiding strike

Nurses at Seattle Children’s hospital ratified a new three-year contract over the weekend, narrowly avoiding a strike they had voted to authorize but said they ultimately didn’t want to call.

The contract includes an average of at least 15% wage increases from now until February 2029, higher premiums for night-shift nurses, new protected leaves, workplace violence language and wins around sick leave, among other additions, according to the Washington State Nurses Association, which represents 2,183 Children’s nurses. The agreement went into effect Monday.

Kara Yates, who’s worked at Children’s for 16 years and served on the WSNA bargaining committee, said she felt “overwhelming relief and excitement” this week.

“This is a great contract,” Yates said. “We achieved a lot through this process and it was incredibly difficult and took a ton of work, but we did finally get to something that I’m really proud of.”