EVERETT — Nurses at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett gave the hospital a 10-day strike notice Friday after what they characterized as a long, unsuccessful day of contract negotiations.
The strike notice comes after over six months of negotiations with the union representing nearly 1,400 nurses. Last month, 97% of voting union members authorized a potential strike if the two sides didn’t strike a deal by Friday.
The two sides have been at odds, as the nurses have pushed for extra pay when units are understaffed. The hospital has rejected those asks and instead encouraged nurses to accept broadly higher wages. Providence leadership had offered nurses a 20% raise over three years, but bumped their proposal to 21.5% Friday night.
The strike would be the first for Providence nurses since 1999.
“I hate that it’s come to this,” nurse Julie Bynum said after talks broke off Friday.
Providence is “extremely disappointed” about the notice, said spokesperson Erika Hermanson in an email Friday night.
The hospital has been preparing for a strike “for some time,” Hermanson said.
“Strikes keep our hard-working and valued nurses from receiving the pay increases they deserve and delay much needed support at the bedside,” she wrote in an email Friday night. “Strikes also strain the health care delivery system in our community and jeopardize vital care for those who depend on us.”
Bynum, who has been part of union negotiations with the hospital, said nurses “can’t give in” on this issue.
“We can’t have people dying in our lobby,” she said. “Many people have died because there are not enough nurses to take care of them.”
Bynum is sad nurses and Providence couldn’t come to an agreement.
“Nurses have been wanting change for a long time and they don’t feel heard,” she said. “Now they’re going to be heard.”
At 11 a.m. Monday, the nurses will hold a press conference at the Everett Labor Temple to discuss their strike plans.
Sydney Jackson: 425-339-3430; sydney.jackson@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @_sydneyajackson.
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