This morning, your bargaining team and representatives from the three unions representing Providence workers across the state made the decision to delay delivery of 10-day notice for a strike. The three unions representing 13,000 health care workers at 13 Providence hospitals statewide reached the decision after ongoing discussions with Providence resulted in significant progress on the key issue of earned benefits.

The parties will go back to the table to continue bargaining their respective contracts.

Your bargaining team is committed to working through outstanding shared interests regarding patient safety, workplace violence prevention, and recruitment and retention.

Over the last 24 hours joint discussions with all three unions – UFCW 21, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW and WSNA – and Providence have resulted in the most significant progress to date. As a result of this progress, and the commitment to hold ongoing negotiations during the coming days, the unions have agreed to pause today’s filing of the 10-day notice of a strike.

This breakthrough would not have been possible without the outstanding engagement of nurses at Sacred Heart. We stood up for ourselves, authorizing a strike and preparing to go out if necessary, and the pressure we have mounted made a difference! It would not have been possible without the unity we have shown with UFCW 21 and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW in our pledge to coordinate actions as we take on Providence.

Questions? Contact WSNA Nurse Representative Jaclyn Perkins at jperkins@wsna.org or send an email to SHMC@wsna.org.