Some employees of Baltimore-based The Johns Hopkins Hospital went on strike Wednesday morning after their union and the hospital failed to reach an agreement, according to a WBALTV report.
About 2,000 Johns Hopkins' service workers are represented by labor union 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The union was seeking wage increases for its workers — the median increase for all workers over the union's four-year proposal would be 18 percent. According to a union news release, hospital management had proposed wage increases, but the union said the proposed increases "would do little for…many Hopkins workers."
A statement on Johns Hopkins Hospital's website regarding the strike says the hospital has "contingency staffing plans in place in assure no disruptions to our patients and their families" and that it is "hopeful that continued good faith efforts towards negotiating will result in a contract that all parties feel is fair and equitable."
Workers starting picketing outside the hospital Wednesday at 6 a.m. EDT and plan to strike until Friday at 6 p.m. EDT, according to the WBALTV report.
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