Hundreds of Washington Hospital workers rally
Sally Berdine, a member of Washington Hospital’s housekeeping crew, speaks at a rally by SEIU workers from Washington Hospital about the contract negotiations. The current agreement expires Sunday. About 400 service and technical employees at Washington Hospital are in contract negotiations with the hospital.
Barbara Richards, a certified nursing assistant, holds a sign during a rally for Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania contract negotiations for Washington Hospital employees. About 150 supporters attended the rally Friday at Alpine Club Lanes in Washington.
Rally participants shout and hold signs along Jefferson Avenue in Washington in support of SEIU Healthcare Pennsyvlania contract negotations with Washington Hospital.
Service and technical employees at Washington Hospital kicked off a pivotal weekend with a rally Friday afternoon.
Bellowing “Hey, hey, ho, ho, poverty wage has got to go” and a half-dozen other chants, members of Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania gathered at Alpine Club Lanes in Washington for a show of labor unity. About 400 SEIU members are in contract negotiations with the hospital, and the clock is ticking.
Their current three-year agreement with the hospital will expire Sunday. Talks are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. today at DoubleTree Hotel on Racetrack Road, and will take place again Sunday if an accord isn’t reached.
If not, a walkout may loom. Karen Gownley, a Harrisburg-based spokeswoman for SEIU, said the affected employees “voted by a 99 percent majority to authorize the bargaining committee to send a strike notice if necessary. What that means is workers are committed to reaching a fair agreement, but if the bargaining committee believes they cannot, they can decide to send a 10-day strike notice.”
Workers in maintenance, housekeeping, dietary and unit secretaries are among those represented by the union. They are seeking a minimum of $15 an hour for all workers. The 400 SEIU employees at Washington Hospital comprise about one-fourth of the payroll of Washington Health System, the parent of the hospital.
Many employees were visible about 4 p.m. Friday, carrying signs in the chill outside the lanes, a nearby McDonald’s restaurant and Washington County Courthouse. About 4:30 p.m., the rally gained momentum inside Alpine Club Lanes as nine speakers strode to the podium, speaking to a cheering, chanting group of about 150.
Some speakers and audience members were not Washington Hospital employees, but expressed support. Two speakers are employed at Pittsburgh hospitals.
Officials at Washington Hospital could not be reached for comment.
“Each of us does an important job at the hospital. We’re a team,” said Brenda Fields, a unit secretary at the hospital and secretary/treasurer of the union there. “The proposal made this week moves us backwards, not forward.”
Sally Berdine of Richeyville, a housekeeping worker for 21 years, said: “We don’t ask for much. We don’t want to be rich. We want to be able to pay for things, go to a movie. We want to carry a mortgage.”
Neal Bisno, president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsyvlania, urged the hospital employees to stand firm. He pointed out a number of underpaid people nationwide in recent years pushed for higher wages and, in some instances, won.
“Workers across the country are fed up,” Bisno said.
There have been seven negotiating sessions since Dec. 21. But, speaking to a reporter before the rally, Fields and Berdine said there has been no movement.
“Unless you count backwards,” Berdine said.
“They’re trying to send us backwards,” said Fields, a Washington resident.
The last contract, in 2013, was settled following somewhat contentious negotiations. The union then voted to authorize a strike as the contract deadline approached. A walkout was avoided when the pact was ratified Feb. 4.
Avoiding a strike is a last-minute hope again.
Zach Zobrist, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, closed the program by pointing out negotiations are planned today and Sunday and they could be lengthy.
“We’ve told the hospital we’re rolling up our sleeves,” he said. “We have a meeting scheduled for Tuesday. Hopefully, we’ll be voting on a new contract.”