Story Photos
 Photo by Greg Ebersole St. John Medical Center workers wave signs outside the hospital during an informational picketing session Monday. |
Workers picket St. John
Tuesday, October 5, 2004 7:42 AM PDT
By Pat Forgey
Printable version
E-mail this articleAfter voting Sunday to authorize a strike, Longview hospital workers took their complaints with PeaceHealth to the public Monday.
Dozens of employees represented by the Service Employees International Union, including certified nursing assistants, medical assistants and housekeepers threw up informational pickets around the hospital Monday morning.
The actual strike, if it comes, could be as soon as Oct. 14, given a required 10-day waiting period to give the hospital time to prepare, hospital and union officials said.
In the Sunday vote, the 400-member union was 97 percent in favor of authorizing the strike, said Lynn-Marie Crider, chief negotiator for the union.
She said the vote was an endorsement of the union's negotiating team by the workers.
"Management had told us they don't think the bargaining team that is elected by the workers represents them," she said."This vote says we do."
Cal Lantz, vice president for PeaceHealth's St. John Medical Center said in a press release that the hospital had requested a federal mediator, who could join negotiations as soon as Thursday. No negotiations are yet scheduled, but Crider said that despite the inability to reach an agreement so far she was encouraged by public statements by Lantz and others showing a willingness to negotiate.
Crider said she hopes the setting of a strike date will spur the hospital to negotiate more seriously, but that the employees' vote showed their seriousness. She said the union leadership cautioned members against voting for a strike simply to send a message, telling members "don't vote for a strike unless you are willing to do it. It's not a game we're playing."
"We want to reassure everyone who relies on St. John for medical care that this on-going negotiation with SEIU will not disrupt our ability to continue to provide top-quality health care for this community," said Lantz.
Employees on the informational picket line said the response Monday from people entering the hospital and those passing by was very positive.
"Most are saying they won't cross the picket line if we are striking," said Anna Boyce, a six-year St. John employee holding a picket sign at the hospital's main entrance.
Those on the line said that health care - for themselves and their patients - was their chief concern.
"We're hospital employees, we should have better health care," said Cassie Winters, a CNA on the surgical floor.
Jennifer Clark has been a unit secretary at the hospital for five years, but only works 20 hours a week and said she can't afford the hospital's coverage.
"I have a whole family and it is $300 a month - that's pretty much my whole paycheck," she said.
Lantz said the hospital was not proposing takeaways from the workers, and was making a strong offer.
"In light of the considerable economic challenges we face as a provider of health care in the Longview community, we are proud of the compensation and benefits we continue to provide," he said.
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