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Edmonds Today
By the People, for the People
115 Seattle Workers at 5 Campuses Vote to Unionize
The vote aims to improve healthcare delivery at Swedish Health Services
Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:14pm
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A union vote by Seattle healthcare workers aims to improve the patient experience alongside technological advancements.Edmonds TodayA group of 115 hospitalists at five Swedish Health Services campuses in the Seattle area have voted to unionize. The workers plan to request that Swedish Health Services President and CEO Elizabeth Wako recognize them as a collective bargaining unit. If that effort fails, they will file with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a formal union election.
Why it matters
The unionization effort reflects growing concerns among healthcare workers about workplace conditions and the quality of patient care. As one veteran Swedish employee noted, there is a 'dichotomy between the extraordinary science and technology we can employ in patient care and the declining experience of service' for both workers and patients.
The details
The 115 unionizing workers are full-time, part-time, and per diem hospitalists at Swedish Medical Group's five locations in the Seattle area: Swedish Issaquah Campus, Swedish Cherry Hill Campus, Swedish First Hill Campus, Swedish Ballard Campus, and Swedish Edmonds Campus. The workers sent a letter on April 3rd requesting collective bargaining status from Swedish Health Services President and CEO Elizabeth Wako.
- The vote to unionize took place on April 6, 2026.
- The letter requesting collective bargaining status was sent to Elizabeth Wako on April 3, 2026.
The players
Swedish Health Services
A healthcare provider operating five campuses in the Seattle area.
Elizabeth Wako
The President and CEO of Swedish Health Services.
Dr. Clark Coler
A 32-year veteran employee of Swedish Health Services who commented on the growing disconnect between medical technology and the patient experience.
What they’re saying
“There is a growing dichotomy between the extraordinary science and technology we can employ in patient care and the declining experience of service.”
— Dr. Clark Coler, 32-year Swedish Health Services veteran
What’s next
If Swedish Health Services does not recognize the workers' collective bargaining unit, the next step will be for the workers to file with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a formal union election.
The takeaway
This unionization effort reflects broader concerns among healthcare workers about workplace conditions and the quality of patient care, as medical facilities increasingly rely on advanced technology while struggling to maintain a positive patient experience. The outcome of this vote could set an important precedent for other healthcare workers seeking to unionize.
