Enumclaw Nurses Picket Outside St. Elizabeth Hospital

ENUMCLAW, WA — Nurses working at St. Elizabeth Hospital held an informational picket Wednesday, calling for better wages, more staffing, and affordable healthcare coverage. In a news release, SEIU Healthcare 199NW said hospital leadership prioritizes profits over patient needs and have rejected proposed changes since contract negotiations began in May.

"Because we’re more of a rural hospital, you have to raise pay up to area standards, or you just can’t attract new nurses," said Kelly Patton, a nurse quoted in the news release. "My family and I can’t even afford to live in Enumclaw, the community where I provide care, and nurses are leaving to go make four-to-five dollars more an hour at other King County hospitals."

In a statement, CHI Franciscan said hospital leadership is committed to paying nurses at a competitive rate and providing good benefits.

"We value our nurses and are committed to providing a quality work environment with competitive wages and benefits that attract and retain the very best," said Cary Evans, Vice President for Communications and Government Affairs at CHI Franciscan. "We respect the collective bargaining process and as we move forward with ongoing negotiations, patients at St. Elizabeth can expect to receive uninterrupted, quality care."

While further pickets have not been announced, nurses are getting their message out in several ways, including a social media campaign, mobile billboard and leaflet distribution. Representatives from the hospital and the union will continue negotiations at a meeting Dec. 9.