Reported today on The Seattle Times For the full article visit:
Swedish health care workers begin three-day strike
Under bright umbrellas and sheer plastic ponchos, striking nurses and other staff gathered in heavy rain outside Swedish Medical Center on First Hill to begin a three-day strike at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
They marched in front of multiple entrances to the hospital, chanted slogans, and cheered raucously when passing cars honked in support.
The Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW, which represents the 7,800 registered nurses, caregivers and staff, said the strike would represent the largest for heath-care workers in recent history. It comes after almost 10 months of bargaining with hospital management.
Swedish decided over the weekend to close urgent care and emergency services at two of its campuses, Ballard and Redmond, starting at 7 p.m. Monday and lasting throughout the strike. Nurses were instantly critical of the move, questioning how hospital officials could realistically ensure the public knew those services would not be available for much of the week.
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'People don't have any idea': Swedish closes two ERs Monday night in advance of strike
In addition to preparing to close the two emergency departments, Swedish has rescheduled all elective surgeries, patient classes and some other procedures for much of the week at some campuses. The hospital has reached out to patients about scheduled appointments with letters and by phone, Swedish spokeswoman Tiffany Moss said.
The labor and delivery unit at the Ballard campus already has closed, and won't reopen at full capacity until Friday.
The strike is scheduled to end Friday morning.
The hospital said it is bringing in nurses from elsewhere this week.
The union delivered its str
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