Caregivers Begin 3-Day Strike At Swedish Medical Center

SEATTLE, WA — Thousands of nurses and caregivers are hitting the picket lines this week, demanding better pay, improved staffing ratios, and new safeguards against discrimination at Swedish-Providence Medical Center. Picketing began outside Swedish campuses in Seattle, Issaquah, Edmonds, Redmond and Mill Creek Tuesday morning.

According to SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, negotiations between the union and hospital leadership began nine months ago. Nurses are seeking higher wages to recruit and retain staff, citing a report that showed hundreds of unfilled positions at Swedish.

"One of the reasons that Swedish-Providence has difficulty with recruitment and retention is that wages for frontline workers are not keeping up with the soaring cost of living," the union wrote in a statement Tuesday. "In fact, Swedish-Providence pays almost 40 percent of its employees below the salary necessary to afford the average one-bedroom."

According to the Associated Press, Swedish CEO Dr. Guy Hudson called the decision to strike disapponting and said the most recent offer from the hospital included an 11.25 percent raise over four years and a strong benefits package.

During the three-day strike, Swedish contracted hundreds of temporary workers to help keep operations running. The hospital said it was not possible to fully staff all departments, prompting the closure of two emergency departments and a childbirth facility. According to the union, the hospital spent nearly $11 million to pay temporary staffers, and hire hundreds of security guards for the duration of the strike.

In a statement Tuesday, Swedish said the strike had not interrupted the level of care at its facilities.

"When striking caregivers left their units this morning, replacement workers were brought onto patient floors to take their place and provide care for our patients," Swedish said.

Emergency departments on Seattle's First Hill and Cherry Hill remain open, along with the ERs in Issaquah, Edmonds and Mill Creek. Swedish said staff members will be posted outside the three closed facilities to help support anyone with urgent needs.

"Since the strike began, there have been no patient care incidents related to those closures," Swedish said.

STRIKE TIMELINE

Tuesday:
Strike begins at all locations at 7 a.m.

Wednesday:
Picketing continues all-day.
3:30 p.m. - March begins at Swedish First Hill.
4:30 p.m. - Rally with elected officials and community supporters at Westlake Park in downtown Seattle.

Thursday:
Picketing continues all-day.

Friday:
7:30 a.m. - Nurses, caregivers and staff plan to return to work at all seven locations.