Unions: 2021 hosted a record number of workplace safety complaints vs. hospitals

Newly totaled data from 2021 shows Washington healthcare workers filed a record number of workplace safety complaint forms, an increase touted by healthcare worker unions as reason for safe-staffing standards legislation.

Members of UFCW 21, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and the Washington State Nurses Association filed 8,649 safety complaint forms in 2021 – the total number of forms submitted between workers of all three unions in 2019 was 2,865.

These forms detail staffing complaints and violations, inadequate equipment, and patient and staff safety concerns, and the unions are claiming they add to the urgency for passing safe staffing standards in Olympia this session.