August 30, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) met for the eleventh day of negotiations to work toward a new contract.

Negotiations included more discussion around pay increases and benefits for nurses.

Children’s and WSNA acknowledged the many areas where there is better alignment between what is being proposed and recognized the areas where the work continues toward reaching an agreement on a new, three-year contract. To that end, Children’s and WSNA agreed to extend the existing contract through September 30, 2025.

Children’s agreed to pay all bargaining members a bonus to recognize their wage increases under the current contract for all hours worked since September 1, and a bonus to all nurses on the bargaining team to account for their time spent in negotiations, if there is a tentative agreement in place by September 30.

Seattle Children’s and WSNA are scheduled to meet again on September 4, 2025.

August 29, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) met for the tenth day of negotiations to work toward a new contract.

Children’s presented WSNA with proposals involving robust pay increases and benefits, to recognize Nurses who are at the heart of caring for every child so they can live the healthiest, most fulfilling life possible.

Children’s is focused on continuing to retain Nurses, which leads to a stronger workforce and our shared goal of better outcomes for patients and families. The initial proposed wage increases make clear the intent to reach an agreement that keeps Children’s highly competitive in the Washington state market.

Like other healthcare systems across the country, Children’s is navigating financial challenges and uncertainty, including federal and state funding cuts and taxes. Despite the ongoing economic headwinds, Children’s remains committed to meaningful pay increases of 2.5%-3.0% for each year of the three-year contract, to support Nurses while preserving the ability to provide compassionate care for all children in the region, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. The total value of Children’s initial proposal is $38.9M, while the total value of WSNA’s proposal is $391.4M.

Additionally, Seattle Children’s and WSNA tentatively reached agreements around the process for Nurses to register grievances, and for development opportunities for Nurses.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for August 29, 2025.

August 8, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) met for the ninth day of negotiations.

Both bargaining teams spent a lot of time analyzing proposals, which is critically important as we work toward a new contract, allowing Seattle Children’s to continue providing compassionate care to the patient families we serve.

Several nurses acknowledged the progress made in addressing workplace violence, sharing their personal experiences and the experiences of their colleagues. Seattle Children’s recognizes and appreciates the vulnerability of each nurse who spoke during the session and looks forward to continuing progress in this important area.

Throughout this week, meaningful progress has been made in several areas discussed, and with a shared commitment to analyze and present proposals that will bring us closer to an agreement, Seattle Children’s looks forward to the next bargaining sessions, scheduled for August 28 and 29.

August 7, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) met for our eighth day of negotiations as we work toward a new contract.

Seattle Children’s presented counterproposals on technology and workplace violence prevention, adopting several of the provisions and concepts from WSNA’s recent counterproposal.

Additionally, the Seattle Children’s bargaining team is actively reviewing WSNA’s proposals.

As the parties are scheduled to resume bargaining on August 7, Seattle Children’s appreciates the productive dialogue and progress made to date.

August 6, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) met for the seventh day of negotiations as we work toward a new contract.

WSNA presented numerous proposals related to pay and benefits, recognizing that the Seattle Children’s bargaining team will need significant time to analyze them.

Seattle Children’s is committed to taking the necessary time to thoughtfully evaluate WSNA's latest proposals.

WSNA also presented its first responses to Seattle Children’s proposals on technology and workplace violence prevention.

The parties are scheduled to bargain again on August 6 and August 7.

July 23, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) were scheduled to meet for a sixth day of negotiations as we work toward a new contract. 

While both parties spent productive time in their separate sessions, there was no joint session due to time.

Seattle Children's recognizes the importance of taking time to listen and having thoughtful dialogue on all new proposals. 

Seattle Children's looks forward to coming together in the next sessions, scheduled for August 5, 6, and 7, 2025, to hear WSNA's new proposals and receive responses to our proposals. 

July 22, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) met for the fifth day of negotiations as we work toward a new contract.

The Children’s bargaining team responded to WSNA proposals around workplace violence and technology. Children’s proposed new contract language to recognize a shared commitment from Children’s and WSNA to prevent workplace violence. Children’s also agreed to contract language acknowledging the clinical judgment of nurses and the role of technology to support the highest quality of care.

In yesterday’s session, WSNA provided a new proposal regarding a healthy work environment, which Children’s committed to review and discuss during the next session.

Seattle Children’s appreciates WSNA’s collaboration during yesterday’s session.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for July 22, 2025.

July 11, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) met for the fourth day of negotiations as we work toward a new contract.

Part of the session was focused on contract language around technology and workplace violence prevention, with WSNA proposing some changes to the current language.

Seattle Children’s and WSNA both acknowledged the positive work already done to enhance our Workplace Violence Prevention Program, and how we can work together to incorporate this program into the contract.

In yesterday’s session, Children’s responded to WSNA’s seniority proposal, agreeing to extend the time for registered nurses to respond to being recalled to Seattle Children’s for employment.

Seattle Children’s appreciates WSNA’s collaboration during yesterday’s session.

The next bargaining sessions are scheduled for July 21 and 22, 2025.

July 10, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) came together for a third day of negotiations as we work toward a new contract.

Seattle Children’s proposed adding language to the contract to reflect our shared commitment to advancing health outcomes and eliminating disparities for the patients we serve.

Children’s also proposed language that guarantees all nurses are treated fairly, consistent with our mission, vision, and values, and includes a new process that ensures nurses can address disputes equitably and efficiently.

WSNA presented proposals on seniority, hours of work and overtime, and additional language on the ten-hour shift schedule.

Seattle Children’s appreciates WSNA’s thoughtful engagement and shared commitment to work collaboratively.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for July 10, 2025.

June 04, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) met for their second day of contract negotiations.

The Children’s bargaining team reviewed WSNA’s proposals in detail and asked questions to prepare counterproposals. Children’s and WSNA engaged in a helpful discussion about WSNA’s proposals and requests for information, and both parties indicated they are working on additional proposals and responses for discussion at upcoming sessions.

The next bargaining session is currently scheduled for July 21, 2025.

May 29, 2025

Yesterday, Seattle Children’s and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) began negotiating a new contract.

The parties discussed and agreed upon negotiation ground rules, including expectations of professionalism and respect at the bargaining table. WSNA and Seattle Children’s also agreed to consider the context of negotiations when sharing bargaining updates, to avoid inflammatory or inaccurate communications.

WSNA presented proposals on the Preamble and the contract’s non-economic articles, and Seattle Children’s is actively reviewing them.

At the end of today’s session, Children’s thanked WSNA for the discussion.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for June 3, 2025.

May 27, 2025

We are looking forward to beginning collective bargaining negotiations with the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) and reaching a new contract with our valued nurses, and to ensure Children’s continues to provide the highest quality clinical care to the patients we serve. Our current collective bargaining agreement expires on August 31, 2025.

Children’s is prepared to collaborate with WSNA to reach an agreement as amicably and quickly as possible.

Our first bargaining date with union representatives is tomorrow, May 28 and we are committed to informing you on the progress as we work toward a new contract.