CLINICIANS AT THREE OF WASHINGTON'S LARGEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS FILE TO UNIONIZE, CITING PATIENT CARE CONCERNS

[Omaha Steve]

https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20260609dc80208/clinicians-at-three-of-washingtons-largest-healthcare-systems-file-to-unionize-citing-patient-care-concerns

CLINICIANS AT THREE OF WASHINGTON'S LARGEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS FILE TO UNIONIZE, CITING PATIENT CARE CONCERNS

SEATTLE, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Two hundred and fifty nurse practitioners and physician assistants working across multiple clinic locations at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (FHCC), the University of Washington (UW), and Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH) have filed to unionize with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD).

Fred Hutch is recognized as a globally renowned cancer center, drawing patients from across the states of Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. The advanced practice providers, who have cared for cancer patients at clinic locations throughout the Puget Sound region, say that the decision to unionize is driven by a shared commitment to protecting the integrity of patient care.

Clinicians say that ongoing organizational restructuring has increased their patient loads while reducing the time available for each visit, making it harder to deliver the quality of care their patients need. They argue that excluding frontline clinicians from decisions involving the organization's expansion threatens their ability to care for patients undergoing cancer treatment. By having clinicians in expansion discussions, sustainable staffing models and collaboration between clinicians can be prioritized when opening new centers to uphold quality care metrics.

"We are unionizing so that we can continue to deliver top-notch care to our oncology patients and strengthen our clinical team by improving transparency and equity with FHCC, UW, and SCH," said Sam Doyle, ARNP, who has practiced at UW for 17 years. "Unionization is the way to accomplish these goals in a democratic and collaborative manner. My colleagues and I are optimistic that our employers will bargain in good faith with us as we move forward in this process."

FULL story at link above.

[Midnight Writer]

1. Unions are one of the few tools left to American workers to get a share of the American Dream.

[KT2000]

2. Yes!

They are being pushed to their limits. Better they unionize than move to Canada to have insurance free practices.