Seattle Children’s Hospital nurses get new contract, raise

SEATTLE — Nurses at Seattle Children’s Hospital will get a raise after a contract between the Washington State Nurses Association and the hospital was approved late Thursday. With the passing of a new contract, nurses will see a $10 an hour raise within the next 12 months.

Two votes were held Thursday at Seattle Children’s main campus and the Bellevue campus.

According to the union, it was a civil, but long negotiation process. The last session before an agreement was made with the hospital lasted 19 hours.

“It will show how strong these nurses are,” said Edna Cortez, who has worked at Seattle Children’s for 32 years.

Pamela Chandran is an attorney with WSNA. She says this new contract will not only retain nurses, but recruit as well.

“This is a huge step for Children’s. This will be a big help in them being able to obtain the current nurses that they have and to attract other nurses to Seattle,” Chandran said.

The new contract also adjusts the pay scale in order to benefit nurses.

“And that was one of our goals was to really raise the floor for nurses who are starting out,” Chandran said.

Cortez says she has always loved Seattle Children’s Hospital, hence why she’s been there for over three decades. But she believes local costs in Seattle is one of the factors driving nurses away.

“The economy and the cost of living and it is very difficult when we are short over 400 nurses in our facility right now,” Cortez said.

Seattle Children’s Hospital had sent the statement below on the negotiations with the union ahead of Thursday’s vote:

“Seattle Children’s and nurses represented by the Washington State Nurses Association reached a tentative agreement on August 15, and WSNA-represented nurses will vote on whether to approve the new three-year contract on September 1. We appreciate everyone working so hard to achieve this outcome. The new contract includes measures that will enhance safety, retention and recruitment, and recognizes the dedication, professionalism and quality of the 1,700-person nursing team at Seattle Children’s as well as the extraordinary circumstances they have been working under throughout the pandemic. Our focus remains on providing high-quality, safe and equitable care to the largest pediatric region in the country so that our patients can live their healthiest and most fulfilling lives.”

The WSNA believes the new contract will set a new standard for nursing contracts across the board.

“We are very much hoping the ratification of this agreement will bring in the next generation of nurses to Children’s,” Chandran said before Thursday’s vote.

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