Astria Regional Medical Center in Yakima, Wash., and Astria Toppenish (Wash.) Hospital, have reached new contracts with two unions representing hundreds of employees at the institutions, according to a Yakima Herald report.
The contracts cover employees represented by the Washington State Nurses Association and Service Employees International Union Health Care 1199NW. The SEIU contract pertains to certified nursing assistants, X-ray technicians, cardiac technicians and other Astria Regional workers.
Union representatives told the Herald some positive steps were taken in the new contracts with wages and benefits in their respective contracts, but there is more that could be done.
"This is not the contract the nurses deserve," said Jayson Dick, a nurse representative for the union. "But we believe that it’s the best we’re going to get given our perception of the hospitals' financial position."
Astria Health said this in an emailed statement to the Herald: "All Astria Health caregivers and employees play key roles in patient care. We are committed to recruiting and retaining the best staff and providing quality healthcare services to patients and families."
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