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About

We are more than 30,000 nurses, healthcare workers, and behavioral health workers across Washington state united for quality patient and client care and good jobs.

We are a union ­— an independent organization created by employees to advocate for our common interests. We know that healthcare works best when we have a strong voice in decision making at our facilities. We stand together to make sure that our pay and benefits allow all of our families to thrive.

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is our statewide union. Our union includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, pharmacists, technicians, professionals, therapists, mental health workers, certified nursing aides, housekeeping and dietary staff, and other healthcare workers. We believe we are the strongest to win for our patients, our clients, and our families when we unite across our job titles and advocate together. We are one care team.

We are also part of the 2 million member Service Employees International UnionSEIU is the largest union of healthcare workers in the nation. 

Interested who is in our leadership?

Curious how to join our union?

Our roots

District 1199NW was founded in 1983 when a group of nurses at Group Health-Puget Sound decided to form a union in our area. They organized a union with 1199-Hospital and Health Care Employees Union, a union originally founded by pharmacists and drug clerks that went on to lead historic campaigns to improve pay and benefits for hospital employees and nurses.

We later voted to form a nationwide union of health care employees by becoming part of SEIU. We’re proud of our connection to 1199’s history — a legacy of progressive, democratic action for social justice and civil rights for every American.

How to form a union at your workplace

Hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers have decided that to make sure we are heard on the job, we need to speak with a united voice. To do that, we’ve formed a union — an independent organization created by employees to advocate for our common interests.

Questions about joining? Email or call our new organizing team, 425-336-5854.

Three Steps to Forming a Union:

1. We identify the changes we want to make and talk to our coworkers about forming our union.

2. After a strong majority of us sign a petition or card saying we'll vote yes for the union, we schedule a union election.  

3. We form our union and begin to negotiate to improve pay, benefits, and other work issues.

FAQs

Why should we join SEIU Healthcare 1199NW?

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is Washington state’s strongest healthcare union with more than 30,000 healthcare workers standing together for quality care and quality careers. Together we have the strength to improve our jobs and the care we give. Read more about the benefits of membership.

How do we form a union?

Forming a union starts with talking to your co-workers about it.  Contact our new organizing team, 425-336-5854, to get some help and tips, and find more information here.  

How do we negotiate a contract?

Negotiating a contract is a participatory, democratic process — all of us have a role to play.

We elect a team of co-workers from across the facility to represent us in negotiations with management. The team puts together a bargaining proposal based on input from surveys and meetings with employees across the hospital or clinic.

The bargaining team — with support from legal and negotiating experts from the union — meets with management over a period of time to reach an agreement on the issues.

We, the union members, then have the final say. Once we reach a tentative agreement with management, we have a chance to review it and ask questions. Then we hold a vote — no contract can be accepted unless a majority of our co-workers vote to approve.

What kinds of improvements have healthcare workers won by joining together in a union?

Having a real voice has allowed thousands of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members to make our jobs better: improved wages, real job security, stable benefits, a voice for better staffing. Read more about the benefits of being a member.

Other than negotiating a contract, how else do SEIU Healthcare 1199NW workers gain a voice on the job?

Having a union allows healthcare workers to create new avenues of communication between us, the employees, and management, like:

Union-management committees. Most contracts create committees that allow employees to sit down with management to solve problems as they come up. Many contracts set up special committees that focus on a particular issue — such as staffing —  that we want to have an ongoing voice about.

A fair system for resolving differences. Our contracts also create a “grievance procedure” where an employee who has a disagreement with a management decision can turn to an appeal process. 

Who is SEIU?

SEIU is an organization of 2.1 million members united by the belief in improving the lives of workers and our families and creating a more just and humane society. Find more information on SEIU’s website.

How much are dues? What do they pay for?

Dues pay the costs of building an effective organization including our education and training programs, negotiating expenses, newsletters, office expenses, and salaries for officers and a full-time staff who provide research, organizing, communications, and legal support for the union.

Dues are 1.8 percent of your gross monthly pay, with a cap of $90/month-- $18 for every $1,000 earned. 

Employees don’t pay dues until coworkers have negotiated and a majority of co-workers have voted to approve their first contract.

Dues cannot be increased unless a majority votes to approve a change.

Who makes the decisions in the union?

The members do. SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is run by members through a strong democratic process. Members elect our own worksite leaders, a union-wide executive board, and our local union officers. We vote to approve our contracts, our dues structure, and all other major decisions in our organization.

What is the advantage of having many types of healthcare employees in one organization?

Most healthcare jobs are team-based and patient care quality improves when every part of the team is strong. Cutbacks and staffing shortages in one department or job classification can ripple across the facility and weaken care and services for patients in other units. It’s important that we all speak with a united voice about our problems and concerns.

Having a united organization for everyone allows employees to make sure that every part of the patient care team has a voice in making decisions about the future of their facility.

How will management react if we try to form a union?

Most employers are used to having the power to make decisions without employee input. It’s typical for employers to be hesitant about opening up decision-making to employee involvement.

But it’s important to remember that forming a union will improve patient care and employee-management relations in the long run. Every employee has the right to help form a union. Ultimately, the decision about forming a union is made by employees, not managers.

How can I give feedback about the care I received from an SEIU Healthcare 1199NW member?

As a healthcare workers' and nurses' union, we put patient care first.  Feedback about care you received is best directed to the hospital, clinic, facility, or institution where you received your care.

If you have complaints of a serious nature about care deficiencies we encourage you to file a complaint with the Washington State Department of Health.

Employment

Research Analyst

Purpose: The RESEARCH ANALYST will provide research support for SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s campaigns to build power and improve standards for healthcare workers. Campaigns can include bargaining and contract fights, external organizing campaigns, issue fights, and public policy campaigns. This position reports to the Lead Research Analyst.

Job Qualifications
- Strong commitment to social and economic justice
- Bachelor’s degree with course work in economics, finance, and/or accounting
- Quantitative analysis skills and attention to detail
- The ability to learn how to conduct deep analyses of healthcare employer finances and business models is essential to the role
- The ability and/or interest to learn how to analyze health and retirement benefit plans
- Knowledge of or experience in the healthcare industry and/or the public sector preferred
- Willingness to work long and irregular hours if needed
- Proficiency with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint as well as good internet and database research skills

Primary Responsibilities
- Compiles, analyzes, summarizes, and presents information on industries, companies, individuals, and issues in support of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s program
- Gathers information through desk research as well as field research, both qualitative and quantitative – including site visits, interviews, attending public meetings and industry events, and more
- Synthesizes relevant facts and reports from a large amount of information
- Develops and implements a weekly work plan; meets deadlines
- Learns new skills and areas of expertise
- Performs other duties as required to support the union and its mission

Physical Requirements: Work is performed in an office and in the field. Irregular hours and periods of travel may be required. Ability to drive, access to a reliable automobile, and possession of a valid Washington state driver’s license required.

Compensation: Competitive salary and excellent benefits as set by collective bargaining agreement. The salary range is $52,900 to $81,400 (depending on experience) plus an automobile allowance.

Employment Term: This is a permanent position, with a six (6) month initial probationary period.

To Apply: Send resume, cover letter, and a short writing sample to Penny Lowry, pennyl@seiu1199nw.org

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is an equal opportunity employer committed to organizational equity and inclusion. People of Color, women, and LGBTQ individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

6 month Temporary Organizer

Closing Date: Open until filled

Job Description: Union organizers work with our members to build and exercise power in the workplace and to advocate for better health care, racial and social justice.  We are a fighting union commitment to confronting corporate power in our society. Union organizers also assist non-union workers in building unions in their workplaces.

Responsibilities include:

  • Recruitment: Train and support workers to take action, including organizing union drives, serving as advocates, and becoming effective leaders in the workplace.
  • Racial Justice: Engage leaders in our fight to promote racial justice and combat white supremacy.
  • Mobilization:  Motivate and mobilize workers to stand up against injustices in the workplace.
  • Lead Meetings: Meet with workers through one-on-one and group meetings, phone calls, and house visits.
  • Leadership Development: Identify and develop leadership among workers.
  • Legislative and Electoral Work:  Recruit volunteers to participate in political, legislative, and issue-oriented campaigns.
  • Lead Actions: Plan and lead actions, rallies, events, and strikes.

Job Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated leadership and organizing skills at work, on campus, or in the community. Experience as a union or community organizer preferred; health care experience a plus.
  • Ability to build relationships and work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Bilingual skills a plus.
  • Work independently, solve problems, and manage time and priorities effectively.
  • Can motivate, inspire and challenge workers and union members to take steps to build power in the workplace and community.
  • Willingness to work long hours, including nights and weekends.
  • Excellent listening, speaking and written communication skills.
  • Automobile and valid driver’s license. 

Compensation: Salary dependent on experience and is set per the collective bargaining agreement with SEIU Healthcare 1199NW staff union contract. Benefits include medical benefits and paid vacation time.

Supervision: Supervised by an officer of the union or designee.

Application Process:

Applicants must submit a current resume, with references and a cover letter expressing what their commitment and interest in the labor movement is in order to be considered for the position.  Resumes and cover letters should be sent to:

Penny Lowry
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
15 South Grady Way, #200
Renton, WA 98057

Email:  pennyl@seiu1199nw.org