Nursing Contract Progress

Seattle Children's and Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) Bargaining Teams Announce Full Contract Agreement 
  
We are pleased to share that Seattle Children's and the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) bargaining teams have reached a full 3.5-year contract agreement.

On January 31, WSNA-represented nurses voted to ratify the new contract, which recognizes the dedication, professionalism and quality of the more than 2,100 person nursing team at Seattle Children’s.

The agreement was reached with the assistance of the federal mediator who guided the parties to a recommended resolution and WSNA's bargaining team endorsed a yes vote. We appreciate everyone's tireless efforts and want to especially thank the bargaining teams for working so hard to achieve this outcome.

Thank you to the nurses and care teams for continuing to provide high-quality and safe care for patients and their families during this time.

We want to express our deep gratitude for the compassionate care our nurses, care teams and staff provide at Seattle Children’s every single day. Thank you for continuing to show up with unwavering dedication — living out our mission for the patients and families we serve.

Together, we provide hope, care and cures to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. Learn more about the key highlights from the new contract, in place through February 2029, below.

Seattle Children’s nurses are at the heart of our mission.

A new contract agreement between Seattle Children's and Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) was reached on Jan. 31, 2026.



Highlights

Seven diverse children lying in a circle on the grass and smiling upward.

Significant wage improvements such as:

  • 96% of nurses will see $9.75 or higher over the life of the contract and 79% will see wage increases of 15% or more.
  • A condensed 31-step wage scale, eliminating ghost steps
  • Full retro payment back to September 1 inclusive of step increases, overtime and double time
  • Parity for Eastern Washington nurses
  • $7 experienced night shift differential for nurses at Step 5 or higher
A happy family of three walking through a field of wildflowers.

Structural and contractual enhancements such as:

  • A memorandum of understanding for case managers to come under the contract and bargain terms unique to them
  • No mandatory arbitration or class action waivers for meal/rest break violations
A healthcare provider using a stethoscope to examine a young child sitting in an adult's lap.

Expanded benefits and protections like:

  • Increased sick leave accrual rate to .05 per hour and one-time 12-hour deposit of sick leave into sick leave banks for all RNs with a total FTE of .6 or above
  • Improved meal/rest break protections
  • Four new protected leaves (on-the-job injury, workplace violence, post-shift fatigue, and death of a patient leave)
  • Flexible in paid leave use to extend health insurance coverage, and preserved union security

Recognized as a Great Place to Work

We’re proud of the awards that recognize the quality of care we give our patients and families and the supportive work environment we provide for our nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Seattle Children’s is the only children’s hospital in the Northwest to be designated as a Magnet organization. We received this recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2008, and again in 2013, 2018 and 2023. Click to learn more (nursingworld.org).

Seattle Children’s is verified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and the first children’s hospital in Washington to earn this status. Click to learn more (facs.org).

Our Emergency Department was granted the Lantern Award for three consecutive award cycles: 2016-2019; 2019-2022; 2022-2025, from the Emergency Nurses Association. Click to learn more (ena.org).

Our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are recipients of the Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Click to learn more (aacn.org).

For 2022, Seattle Children's has received the Gold ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support. The ELSO Excellence in Life Support Award recognizes ECLS programs worldwide that distinguish themselves by having processes, procedures and systems in place that promote exceptional care. Click to learn more (elso.org).

U.S. News & World Report has recognized Seattle Children’s as one of the top 10 best children’s hospitals in the U.S. and the best in the Pacific Northwest. We have been named as a top children’s hospital every year since they began ranking medical facilities more than 30 years ago.