Pediatric physicians at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital announced today that they voted to unionize with Northwest Medicine United to have a stronger voice in decisions affecting patient care. The 100 physicians at Mary Bridge (part of the MultiCare system) said they voted to unionize so they can formally engage with hospital administrators through a collective bargaining agreement on decisions that will improve patient care. This effort is part of a growing movement of physicians across the country who are unionizing to protect patient care, address staffing levels and oppose corporate control in medicine.

May 9, 2025

Unionized physicians from six Legacy Health hospitals in Oregon and Washington held a news conference on May 9 to discuss yearlong stalled contract negotiations and the significant issues Legacy refuses to address that are affecting safe patient care. The hospitalists joined Northwest Medicine United, AFT Local 6552, in late 2023, but negotiations with Legacy have stalled, with the hospital system canceling several bargaining sessions, offering proposals that would make things worse for patients and refusing the union’s proposals to improve patient care and the recruitment and retention of physicians.

April 16, 2025

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.