Doctors at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital Seek Voluntary Recognition of Union
For Immediate Release
April 16, 2025
Contact:
Roxanna McCloud-Lewis
503-890-8141
TACOMA, Wash.—Pediatric physicians at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital said today they are asking the hospital to agree to allow them to form a union with Northwest Medicine United, negating the need to file cards with the National Labor Relations Board and hold a vote.
The 65 physicians at Mary Bridge (part of the MultiCare system) said they want to form a union to formally engage with hospital administrators on decisions that will improve patient care. This effort highlights a growing movement of physicians across the country who are unionizing to protect patient care, address staffing levels and oppose corporate control in medicine.
If the hospital agrees to voluntary recognition of a union, the election process can be dispensed with and the parties can begin collective bargaining.
“We are seeking voluntary recognition from Mary Bridge to form our union,” said Tracy Kelly, a pediatric hospitalist at Mary Bridge for 19 years. “Our goal is to avoid a lengthy process and have a seat at the negotiations table as soon as possible. When physicians are empowered to advocate for what children and their families truly need, everyone benefits—especially our patients.”
Northwest Medicine United, formerly known as Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association, founded in 2014, is the first hospitalist-specific union in the U.S. and is now one of the largest physician-led unions in the country. It represents physicians in the Pacific Northwest at PeaceHealth, Providence and Legacy Health. It is part of AFT Healthcare, the fastest-growing healthcare union in the nation, which represents more than 200,000 healthcare workers and is affiliated with the 1.8 million-member AFT, AFL-CIO.
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