EVERETT, Wash. — Nurses are on strike in Everett after labor negotiations have failed to result in a new contract at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.
Nurses said the plan ito picket 24 hours a day until Sunday at 6 a.m. The union representing the nurses said the strike is putting a spotlight on concerns around pay and safe staffing levels.
Hospital leaders said the strike will slow the process of getting a new contract.
According to the nurses' union, more than 1,300 workers are walking off the job this week.
"It's disruptive not just to our patients," said Kristy Carrington, chief executive at Providence Swedish in North Puget Sound. "It's disruptive to us as an organization and our culture."
"This is a disruption in care, but you know what, if we are out here something is wrong inside," said Stephanie Sausman, a nurse. "We are caregivers. We don't want to be outside. We want to be in there taking care of our patients."
The strike has left a lot of shifts to fill at the hospital.
“I'm really pleased to say that this morning we did have a seamless and safe handoff of care as our nurses left,” Carrington said.
"We have several qualified nurses who have come in,” said Michelle Lundstron, chief nursing officer at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. “And we've had a significant number of nurses who have crossed the picket line, ready to come into work today."
"That is not the reports we are getting from inside," Sausman said. "Things are not okay inside. They are scrambling."
"We at Providence take patient safety with the utmost seriousness,” Carrington said.
Hospital leaders said they are working to recruit and retain nurses.
"Our average nurse makes $121,000 a year working three days a week, and we've offered a 21.5% increase,” Lundstrom said.
The hospital’s proposed increase would be over the course of three years, but the union wants a 30% increase over three years in order to be competitive with new contracts being offered at area hospitals.