More than 150 nurses demonstrated outside Highline Medical Center on Aug. 25 to express their frustration over progress of current contract negotiations.

Waving signs that conveyed their message, they also expressed concern about benefits and current nurse staffing levels.

Their union, Service Employees International Union District 1199NW, has been in negotiations with the medical center since May to garner increased staffing, which they consider a patient safety issue, and a new benefits package.

About 365 nurses at Highline belong to the union.

That afternoon, King County Councilman Dow Constantine spoke to the nurses conducting the informational picket in support of their efforts to secure a better contract.

"We want to emphasize that these are critical issues," Diane Sousne, president of the local union, said.

"We have had a good working relationship with the hospital so we were discouraged not to get bargaining done in the last session."

But, noted Carol Hallen, assistant administrator at Highline, "Most of the issues are resolved. We believe we made a fair and competitive offer for our staff, patients and community."

The remaining outstanding issues are charge nurses and benefits, Hallen added.

"Talks did seem to be progressing by bits and pieces but at this point in time we are being stonewalled by the hospital's [negotiating] team," said Terry Hill, a registered nurse in the medical center's critical care unit.

He noted they want more nurses hired for safer staffing levels and to alleviate pressure on the charge nurse on a floor.

The charge nurse acts as the director and controls the flow of the patients that are coming in, directs where the patients need to go, and is a go-between for the doctors and staff.

"Everything goes through the charge nurse first," said staff nurse Shelley Day, a fill-in charge nurse in the emergency department.

Because of an increasing shortage of nurses, some charge nurses at Highline are being forced to take on an additional patient load, Day continued.

And taking on a patient load takes away from helping with the flow of incoming patients.

"There needs to be extra staffing so patients are well cared for," Day added.

The other issue being negotiated is benefits, and the medical center is telling the nurses "they have no money for benefits, not a cent," Hill said.

The Union is attempting to increase benefits so they can attract a "newer generation of nurses," Sousne declared.

"We are living in a time of a huge nursing shortage nationwide," Hill observed.

"If Highline wants to recruit and retain quality nurses, especially among new graduates, they have to offer excellent working conditions and a good benefits package, at least on par with other comparably sized area hospitals."

Better health care for the families of full-time staff and a better retirement plan are key concerns, said Sousne.

"It's ironic that as a nurse you can't afford health care for your family," Sousne said.

The nurses' contract expired June 30. The union has enlisted the help of a federal mediator as talks continue.

"The issues don't need more time at the table," Sousne stressed. "It's decision time.

"This (the picketing) will hopefully give management a chance to come to the table with a little more time for reflection."

Hill said, "We are passionate about these issues because Highline Medical Center is a great hospital and we are proud to be working here.

"Ultimately we all have shared goals that we want to be the best hospital and the best employer in the whole area."