As we are nearing completion of our strike assessment and are working on setting up a meeting with the WSNA Labor Executive Council to discuss a strike vote at SCH, the timing seems opportune for a summary of how we got to the point of even considering a strike in the first place.

Seattle Children’s hospital has previously faced significant legal payouts due to a racially hostile work environment and violations of rest and meal break regulations. While proposals were made by our WSNA bargaining team to enhance SCH's commitment to anti-racism, the hospital suggested removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language from the contract and barring legal action against discrimination and harassment.

Proposals for break relief nurses to ensure proper rest and meal breaks were countered by the hospital's suggestion to waive such rights and related legal actions.

At our last bargaining session (number 30!), and with our contract set to expire on November 21, both parties strived for an agreement. Ultimately, SCH withdrew its anti-union and mandatory arbitration proposals, but only if the bargaining team accepted conditions like sub-market wages, no break relief nurses, limited sick leave policies, and the abandonment of strategies to recruit and retain experienced nurses for hard-to-fill positions. This was clearly not an even trade for our hard-working nurses at SCH.

Throughout the unprecedented challenges of this campaign, SCH nurses have not only remained strong but have grown exponentially in their organized power with a picket of over 1,300 nurses, an impressively significant social media following, local unit meetings tipping the scales at nearly 1,000 participants, and hundreds of activists stepping up as strike captains to help assess and connect with every nurse at SCH.

We continue to hope that we will get to a fair contract before we get to a strike, even as we prepare for a truly powerful show of force.

Here is where we are in our strike preparation timeline:

Common Questions About Striking Answered:

View or download the following documents.

Let’s be clear, the core of our strength comes directly from YOU. As we are setting up the groundwork for escalation that everyone can get in on, the biggest impact you can make is by coming to observe.

Any misleading communications that management puts out are not going to work if nurses come to witness the truth of what is happening at bargaining with their own eyes.

Bring lunch, bring your badge, wear your WSNA blue, and come stand with us as we fight for a better future for ourselves and our patients.

Next Bargaining Date: 

Monday 12/8

(stay tuned as we work on solidifying some still tentative bargaining dates in December)

1916 Boren, 11^th floor conference room at the end of the hallway

We start at 9 am but you can come when you are able. Here are some guidelines:

Observer Guidelines

If you have further questions about observing after reading the guidelines, please reach out to our organizer Crystal Doll at cdoll@wsna.org.

Do not hesitate to contact any of the officers if you have questions. All of our contacts are on our WSNA website. https://www.wsna.org/union/seattle-childrens-hospital. Also, utilizing our Instagram @sch_wsna offers quick updates and opportunities for DMs.

In solidarity,

Your Bargaining Team
Annika Hoogestraat, Kara Yates, Lindsey Kirsch, Sam Forte, Katie Podobnik, Therese Hill, Kelsey Gellner, AJ Nagal, Emma Gordon, Sarah Munro, Cody Ian, Lauren Lustyk, Regan Halom, Jon McAferty and Anne Marie Fountain

WSNA Nurse Rep Linda Burbank at lburbank@wsna.org