Unionized clinical and service employees at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash., plan to picket Wednesday amid bargaining efforts for a new contract, reports The Olympian.
"We are united for the future of our patients, our families and our hospital. We are standing together to make sure we have a hospital and a union contract that guarantees affordable health insurance for our families, provides staffing incentives and raises so we can recruit and retain quality staff, and protects quality patient care," states a Facebook web page about the event, which includes a rally.
The employees, represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, have worked under an expired contract. Nine bargaining sessions have taken place since July, according to hospital spokesperson Chris Thomas.
Mr. Thomas said the hospital's latest offer would provide most caregivers covered by the contract 3 to 3.5 percent pay increases each year over the four-year period, according to the report.
"We have a solid offer on the table and are committed to investing in staffing both through our recruiting efforts and through our competitive wages and benefits package," said Dana Vandewege, director of human resources for Providence Southwest Washington Region, according to the report.
"While we respect the union's right to demonstrate publicly, these issues need to be worked out at the bargaining table, not on the streets," she added.
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