FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2025
Healthcare Workers’ Union Files Lawsuit in Superior Court of Washington to Halt Valley Medical Center’s Layoffs and Cuts
RENTON, WA — SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, the union representing more than 2,400 nursing, pharmacy, service, and tech healthcare workers at Valley Medical Center, filed a lawsuit Monday in King County’s Superior Court of Washington to seek injunctive relief and enforcement of the Board of Trustees’ motion to pause layoffs and closures at the following clinics:
- Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Occupational Health Services
- Kent Primary Care
- Healthcare Covington North
- Northwest Pavilion
- Inpatient Pediatrics
- Pediatric Neurology
- Renton Landing Urgent Care
- NICU reduction to Level II
Valley Medical Center, an acute care hospital and clinic network serving South King County, is operated under Public Hospital District No. 1 and is governed by a Board of Commissioners, to which the CEO is accountable. The hospital system plays a critical role in providing essential healthcare services to the region.
Beginning in March 2025, Valley cited the ‘cancelling’ of federal Medicaid Directed Payments as justification for layoffs and service cuts, despite assurances from state and federal agencies that the funds would be disbursed. The first round of cuts occurred in late March and was reported by The Seattle Times and Renton Reporter.
In May, Valley announced a second round of cuts, this time impacting union-represented bedside care positions. Again, the justification was the ‘cancelled’ federal funding, despite continued assurances that the payments were forthcoming.
On May 29, 2025, via internal communication, Valley leadership acknowledged that the Medicaid funding they claimed was cancelled December 2024 was being restored for calendar year 2025. Their message described the development as “a relief and an encouraging sign,” while also noting that financial challenges remain.
Following the May 29 announcement, and due in part to pressure by healthcare workers, Valley’s Board of Commissioners and Board of Trustees unanimously passed resolutions to pause and reevaluate alternatives to the cuts. At the time, the Board of Trustees made it clear that Valley Medical Center must pause the closures and resultant personnel actions, including layoffs, for a period of time sufficient to consider alternatives.
Valley administrators, however, moved forward with plans to cut healthcare services. On June 9, Valley CEO Jeannine Grinnell notified SEIU Healthcare 1199NW that the layoffs and closures would proceed.
“Our South King County community deserves transparency and integrity from Valley Medical Center leadership,” said Jane Hopkins, RN, president of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW. “As a union, we strive to maintain a respectful, honest relationship with administrators at Valley, but we will not stand by while care is cut and jobs are lost despite a resolution from the Board to pause the changes. The well-being of an entire community is at risk.”
According to its 2024 end-of-year report filed with the Washington State Department of Health; Valley Medical Center’s 2024 audited financial statement; and its Q3 2025 quarterly financial statement, the hospital closed fiscal year 2024 with more than $50 million in profit. Valley’s current fiscal year closes on June 30, 2025, and the next report is expected to detail incoming public dollars from federal, state and hospital district levels.
Of all the hospitals that receive these federal payments, Valley appears to be the only one that implemented cuts in response to delayed federal payments, raising concerns about Valley’s financial decision-making.
“We were assured months ago that the funding was coming. Why is Valley the only hospital resorting to cuts and closures?” asked Jordan Middleton, a Registered Nurse at Valley Medical Center. “Valley’s own mission calls for ‘caring for our community like family,’ but cuts to care would be devastating to the health of our South King County community. Our patients deserve quality care, not reduced access to care.”
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW healthcare workers, in reviewing communications between the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Washington Health Care Authority, and state legislators, found ample evidence to indicate that Valley’s leadership received information about the forthcoming payments multiple times, but decided to move forward with closing clinics and cutting patient services despite being notified that their funding was never ‘cancelled’ and was fully expected to arrive. State Rep. Nicole Macri confirmed the existence of these exchanges.
Ultimately, healthcare workers are calling for transparency, accountability, and a commitment to good-faith decision-making. They urge Valley leadership to avoid further cuts and to treat staffing reductions as a last resort.
“Through our union and with this legal action, healthcare workers like me are advocating for patients, for our community, and for our own coworkers who are proud to work here,” said Jake McMurray, an interventional radiology tech. “Valley leadership needs to do better. The decline in transparency and trustworthiness coming from the top over the past few years is alarming. With these cuts, Valley is moving in the wrong direction. We’ll keep fighting to protect care in South King County.”
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About SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is a union of nurses and healthcare workers with more than 37,000 caregivers throughout hospitals, clinics, mental health, skilled home health and hospice programs in Washington state and Montana. SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s mission is to advocate for quality care and good jobs for all.