Posts tagged staffing levels
‘Keep Washington running’: Thousands of state workers walk out amid contract talks
September 1, 2026 // Thousands of Washington state employees walked off the job Monday at more than 100 sites across the state as contract negotiations continue. The Washington Federation of State Employees, the union representing the workers, organized the walkouts. At a Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) office in Bellevue, about 20 workers joined the demonstration. Larger rallies were also held at the University of Washington, Western State Hospital, the state departments of Health and Ecology, and other DCYF offices.
Special Feature: How Public Employee Unions Built California’s Most Powerful Political Machine
July 13, 2026 // In California, public employee unions are often among the most influential organizations helping determine who becomes governor, mayor, county supervisor or school board trustee. They endorse candidates. They contribute millions of dollars to campaigns and independent expenditures. They provide campaign volunteers, voter outreach, mail programs, and political infrastructure that many candidates could not easily replace. By the time contract negotiations begin, the relationship between labor and management has often existed for months or years. That does not mean elected officials simply surrender to union demands. Many negotiate in good faith and work hard to protect taxpayers while fairly compensating public employees. But in government, the officials responsible for approving compensation packages are frequently supported by the same organizations representing the employees who will benefit from those agreements.
‘Make them respect us’: Striking Seattle hotel workers apply for unemployment benefits
July 5, 2026 // Hotel workers on strike at Seattle’s Embassy Suites Downtown Pioneer Square are signing up for unemployment benefits on Thursday. Workers represented by UNITE HERE! Local 8 are entering their third week of the strike, calling for higher wages, year-round healthcare, restored pre-pandemic staffing levels, and protections against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.
Seattle hotel workers could go on strike right before World Cup
June 3, 2026 // About 113 union workers at a busy hotel near Lumen Field could go on strike right before massive crowds are expected to arrive in Seattle for the FIFA World Cup, when more than 750,000 visitors are expected in the city.
Brookfield Zoo staff vote to authorize strike beginning Friday
May 1, 2026 // More than 200 employees at Brookfield Zoo Chicago who are members of the Teamsters Local 727 union voted Tuesday night to authorize a labor strike beginning Friday, May 1, when the existing collective bargaining agreement is set to end at 11:59 a.m. The vote occurred after members of the union — which represents workers in the zoo’s animal care, custodial, grounds and police departments — agreed to reject the zoo’s last, best and final offer, given Monday, April 27.
10,000 Corewell nurses to vote on strike authorization amid first contract negotiations
March 3, 2026 // "Last week, the Teamsters added an additional $62 million in proposals on top of their previous $2 billion earlier proposals. This is not good faith bargaining. We cannot reach an agreement if the Teamsters’ proposals keep going up without discussion about actual priorities. Any talk of a strike authorization is premature as negotiations are still ongoing." What's next: Voting begins at 9 a.m. Monday and will remain open until results are announced on March 17.
Pharmacy and Lab Workers Join the Labor Strike Against Kaiser Permanente
February 10, 2026 // Over 3,000 pharmacy and lab workers have begun to strike during their own contract negotiations with the health care organization
Hospital chaos looms as tens of thousands of California nurses threaten walk off job despite proposed wage hikes
January 26, 2026 // In an effort to prevent the walkouts, Kaiser proposed a 21.5% wage increase, but the the union said the company refused to bargain in good faith
Nurses strike begins in New York City as thousands walk off jobs at major hospitals
January 12, 2026 // Montefiore Senior Vice President Joe Solmonese said, "NYSNA's leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job. We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last." A Mount Sinai spokesperson said, "Unfortunately, NYSNA decided to move forward with its strike while refusing to move on from its extreme economic demands, which we cannot agree to, but we are ready with 1,400 qualified and specialized nurses – and prepared to continue to provide safe patient care for as long as this strike lasts."
Wyndham Hotel workers go on strike amid contract negotiations in Center City
November 11, 2025 // Workers are pushing for higher wages, better staffing levels, and improvements to both health care and pension plans.