Bellingham PeaceHealth nurses set picket date amid stalled negotiations
PeaceHealth nurses announced this week that they plan to hold an information picket April 29 as bargaining continues after three months with still no agreed-upon contract.
The picket may not occur if the two parties can reach a “fair agreement” before then, according to the announcement made by the Washington State Nurses Association.
To date, the hospital and the nurses have held 11 bargaining sessions for the current contract and plan to meet again for mediation on April 17-18.
“The biggest issues are over a new insurance plan that costs more and offers less, wages, and a feeling of disrespect from management,” the announcement states.
PeaceHealth nurses have flooded several recent Bellingham City Council and Whatcom County Council meetings, wearing blue in solidarity and speaking publicly about their concerns with the biggest employer in Whatcom County.
“That PeaceHealth has cut our health benefits is just one example of its disrespect and disregard for the nurses and health care workers at St. Joe’s. But this also impacts the community,” said PeaceHealth employee and WSNA co-chair Robin Cully at Tuesday’s Whatcom County Council meeting.
“When you see our blue union shirts and our signs in shop windows, remember these are not just big union names. These are your neighbors, your friends and your family,” said PeaceHealth care management nurse Britt Hanowell at Tuesday’s meeting.
In response to community concern, the Bellingham City Council unanimously approved sending a letter on April 14 to the Washington State Nurses Association and other local health care workers to “strongly urge all parties to proceed with a commitment to bargaining for the common good that is predicated on a high-quality health care workforce and a safe workplace.”
“We understand that this cannot be sustained without competitive compensation and benefits, improved employee retention, and adequate staffing,” the letter states.
The council also unanimously approved sending a letter to PeaceHealth with similar language, further stating that the hospital’s “decisions resound widely in our community.”
“We are invested in your success in agreeing to fair and equitable settlements that reflect your commitment to providing quality health care for our community and addressing the impact of the rising cost of living on your employees in Bellingham and Whatcom County,” the letter states.
PeaceHealth Northwest Network Senior Director of Marketing and Communication Amy Drury offered the following statement to The Bellingham Herald:
“We understand how important our contract is to our caregivers, and we look forward to re-engaging in constructive, good faith bargaining later this week to reach an agreement that is fair, competitive and sustainable for our medical center and our community. Our current offer for WSNA-represented caregivers would provide wage increases between 12% and 30%, over 3 years.
Note that picketing is neither a strike nor a refusal to work, and PeaceHealth respects the rights of our caregivers to conduct this activity. Our shared focus remains on providing safe, high-quality and compassionate care to the people in our communities.”
WSNA represents 1,100 registered nurses at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.
This story was originally published April 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM.
