BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) - Hundreds of workers at a Bellingham, Washington, hospital have walked out in what they say is a one-day strike.
The Bellingham Herald reports (https://is.gd/yxmTR3 ) the workers are members of SEIU Healthcare Local 1199NW, which has been negotiating with PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center over a three-year contract. The union represents support and tech staff totaling as many as 900 workers.
They walked out Wednesday. The union says negotiations broke down over the issues of wages, health benefits and staffing levels.
The union says striking employees include nursing assistants, lab technicians and housekeeping. The newspaper says nurses and doctors weren’t among those taking part in the walkout.
A PeaceHealth representative said about 90 morning shift employees went to work Wednesday.
Hospital spokeswoman Beverly Mayhew called the strike disappointing. She says “it appeared that we were close to a settlement.”
Both sides say they want to return to bargaining.
The newspaper says PeaceHealth has hired an agency that provided temporary replacement workers for three days.
___
Information from: The Bellingham Herald, https://www.bellinghamherald.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.