Union health care workers at Community Health Care say they will strike the Pierce County network of clinics beginning Nov. 14 unless they and the clinics reach a new contract agreement.
Those same workers struck for two days in August, but no new talks have been scheduled since then.
“This is a pretty drastic step,” said Linnae Riesen, spokeswoman for SEIU Health Care 1199NW. “Health care workers don’t usually strike for more than a day or two.”
The union said the duration of the new strike is open-ended.
Those care workers have been working under the health care organization’s last contract offer which Community imposed in mid-summer.
That offer raised health care premiums to 15 percent of the organization’s cost from four percent and eliminated step raises.
Community Health Care officials weren’t available for immediate comment.
The health organization has said it can’t afford additional costs because of cutbacks in government programs and greater needs among its clients.
The union health workers said their share of the organization’s health insurance costs have become too much for them to afford.
“I have a 7-year-old and another baby on the way in January. These increases are too expensive for me to afford, and I’ll have to put my kids on state health care. I provide health care to families that can’t afford it every day at work, and now my family will be the ones needing help,” said Felisha Singleton, a dental assistant.
During the last strike, Community Healthcare shut down some facilities and consolidated care in other clinics.
The union contends it made proposals in previous negotiations that would save Community Health Care money.
Among those were eliminating across-the-board wage increases for five years and adding 30 minutes to the work day without pay. The health care workers had previously accepted economic concessions to help the agency when state budget cuts leave many health care programs in jeopardy, the union said.
“We’ve done our part in taking concessions and CHC continues to demand more without showing us the books and justifying their position. We continue to lose care for our families, and our patients experience more cuts,” said Barbara Goebel, a licensed practical nurse. “We should be working with Community Health Care to fight against more cuts in Olympia, but instead Community Health Care is fighting with us.”
Community Health Care provides primary medical and dental care for patients in clinics in Tacoma, Lakewood, Spanaway and Parkland.
John Gillie: 253-597-8663 john.gillie@thenewstribune.com
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