“We knew we couldn’t repeat what happened two years ago,” said Carol Lightle, a charge nurse at Swedish Issaquah and a member of the bargaining team. “I don’t think that’s good for anyone. The last resort for workers is for us to walk away from our patients.”
The raises start to kick in on Oct. 14, followed by a 9.5% or $3 increase in April 2023; a 4% or $1.25 increase in October 2023; and a 4% or $1 increase in October 2024.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Lightle said. “I’m so excited. People are so happy and thankful.”
Lightle said she was proud of the union’s bargaining team, and also credited Swedish’s management for “being committed to viewing the process from a racial justice lens and partnering on the journey.”