Washington Hospital workers vote to strike
Unionized workers at Washington Hospital decided to give a Feb. 12 strike notice Monday after 98 percent of union members voted to reject management’s latest contract proposal.
Members of the Service Employees International Union rejected the hospital’s proposal, which officers argued would have had a negative impact on employee wages and benefits. The current SEIU contract expires Jan. 31.
SEIU members said the proposal would put an additional burden on workers in the form of new health care deductables, raise premiums and reduce starting salaries for many positions.
The hospital also proposed to end the seniority-based structure of the union.
“What they’re trying to do is raise the deductible without giving us a raise,” said Benda Fields, SEIU secretary at Washington Hospital. “We think hospital workers should have quality, affordable health care. People are moving backwards, not even staying the same.”
The union said starting wages for some positions at the hospital would drop by as much as $4 per hour under the proposal.
“One thing we want to make clear is that, as a union, we don’t want to strike,” said Zach Zobrist, SEIU vice president. “It’s not what our patients want or what the community wants, and it’s not good for the community or patient care. I’m hoping in the negotiations we could work something for our employees, but if it has to come to (a strike) it has to come to that.”
Cindi Ellis, a nursing assistant at the hospital, said the combination of reduced salaries and increased workloads would have a negative effect on patient care.
“The workload is too much for one nursing assistant,” Ellis said. “All the vitals, blood sugars, baths, taking patients on stretchers to the OR, pushing wheelchairs and taking tests – it puts the patient at risk and us, also. They want us to revive quality care for patients, but I don’t understand how we can do that with a reduced staff.”
According to Karen Gownley, union representatives would continue to negotiate with hospital executives in order to come to an agreement before the scheduled strike.
SEIU workers at Washington Hospital are members of SEIU Healthcare PA, the Harrisburg-based local that represents multiple health care facilities throughout the state.
Negotiations will be held every day of the upcoming week, with an SEIU rally scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at Alpine Lanes on Jefferson Avenue in Washington.
Washington Hospital press contact Jamie Ivanac said hospital officials had no comment Monday.