Bellingham, Wash. – More than 100 physicians and advanced practice clinicians across two bargaining units represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) working for PeaceHealth and Sound Physicians will go on strike from May 12-16, 2025. In addition to fighting for their rights, the UAPD clinicians are electing to stand in solidarity with the unionized caregivers of SEIU1199NW at PeaceHealth, who they will be striking alongside.
“PeaceHealth continues to disregard our suggestions for improving working conditions and sustainability,” Graham Meeks, Nurse Practitioner, said. “We’re tired of losing great colleagues to other healthcare systems. We’re tired of not being able to see our patients as often and as frequently as necessary for optimal care. We don’t want to go on strike, but we feel this is necessary to force Vancouver executives to notice Whatcom and Skagit patients.”
Despite ongoing understaffing and the inability to recruit and retain staff across all departments, PeaceHealth leadership is pressuring clinicians to see more patients in less time. Patients are also experiencing longer wait times for appointments and follow-up care, with some waiting over six months to schedule time with a clinician.
“Our clinicians have repeatedly raised concerns about patient safety and working conditions for months, but PeaceHealth continues to make these decisions and implement changes without clinician input,” Joe Crane, UAPD Washington State Organizing Coordinator, said. “After multiple failed attempts to resolve these issues through negotiations, the decision to strike was made.”
While negotiations with PeaceHealth have stalled in one bargaining unit, in the other, jointly employed by PeaceHealth and Sound Physicians, negotiation has not started. Despite being certified as a union under both PeaceHealth and Sound Physicians by the National Labor Relations Board in June 2024, PeaceHealth has refused to recognize or bargain with the group. In order to protect their federally guaranteed rights, the union at Sound Physicians/PeaceHealth is demanding recognition from both employers as terms of their strike.
Picket times and locations are as follows:
| Dates | Times | Location |
| Monday, May 12, 2025 | 7 AM – 11 AM 2 PM – 6 PM | PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center corner of Squalcium Parkway and Ellis Street |
| Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | 10 AM – 2 PM 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM | PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center corner of Squalcium Parkway and Ellis Street |
| Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 10 AM – 2 PM 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM | PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center corner of Squalcium Parkway and Ellis Street |
| Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 10 AM – 2 PM 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM | PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center corner of Squalcium Parkway and Ellis Street |
| Friday, May 16, 2026 | 10 AM – 2 PM 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM | PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center corner of Squalcium Parkway and Ellis Street |