Aug. 20, 2024
All Kadlec facilities open, services continuing during Service Employees International Union (SEIU) strike
Today, Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 6:00 a.m. marked the beginning of the Service Employees International Union 1199NW (SEIU) 7-day strike at Kadlec.
Thanks to the dedicated work of many of our team, we are well-prepared to continue to provide the safe, high-quality care the community depends on us for.
All our facilities are open, all services will continue, and we will maintain our daily operations.
SEIU represents caregivers in service and tech (non-nursing roles) at Kadlec. As is standard for hospitals in strike situations, we have partnered with a nationally recognized agency that provides qualified, experienced, and credentialed caregivers who will be on-site throughout the duration of the strike.
To support seamless patient care, and an orderly process, we transitioned caregivers represented by SEIU from their units around 4:30 a.m., so we could assist agency caregivers to the units. Our SEIU-represented caregivers were given time to gather their things, and we communicated to them that they would be paid until the start of the strike time at 6:00 a.m. Caregivers also had the option to provide their intent to work and not strike and return to work to finish their shift.
We respect the rights of our caregivers to be part of the union and to participate in the strike. We are saddened and disappointed to hear that the union is stating that Kadlec management engaged in an unfair labor practice by leading them out at 4:30 a.m. The early transition took place to facilitate patient care, and no union member lost any pay as a result.
Additionally, it has come to our attention that SEIU is encouraging its picketing members to slow down or block deliveries of supplies to the hospital. With the safety of our community at the forefront, we call on the union to help ensure that supply lines remain open.
Our patients and caregivers are our highest priority. Kadlec looks forward to returning to the bargaining table once the strike ends, with a continued commitment to negotiating a fair and competitive contract for our caregivers.
Aug. 12, 2024
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has issued a 10-day notice of intended labor action at Kadlec Regional Medical Center (Kadlec)
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has issued a 10-day notice of intended labor action at Kadlec Regional Medical Center (Kadlec). SEIU has planned a strike for August 20, starting at 6 a.m., through August 27. SEIU represents caregivers in service and tech roles (non-nursing roles) at Kadlec.
The union’s decision comes after eight months of negotiations between Kadlec and SEIU, where the hospital bargaining team passed multiple strong proposals to the union that would provide immediate and significant wage increases averaging 15.98 percent for our caregivers, with additional increases over the next three years.
Kadlec is disappointed the union has not accepted our competitive offers, has presented unrealistic counterproposals, and has chosen to strike. SEIU continues to propose an average wage increase of over 40 percent.
That is far and above what other employers pay for the same jobs across Eastern Washington. SEI has proposed Kadlec pay the same wages as Swedish Health Services, a hospital in one of the most expensive cities in Washington State.
Strikes do not support progress towards settling contracts. Kadlec has been negotiating in good faith, and we know progress cannot be made if we are not at the bargaining table.
We respect our caregivers’ rights to be part of the union and to take this action. Kadlec is well-prepared for the strike. All our facilities will remain open, and all services will continue. We will maintain our daily operations and have contracted with a staffing agency, which is standard practice for hospitals in strike situations.
Our patients and caregivers are our highest priority, as always. The community can expect to receive the safe, compassionate, high-quality care they have received at Kadlec for the past 80 years.
Kadlec looks forward to returning to the bargaining table once the strike ends, with a continued commitment to negotiating a fair and competitive contract for our caregivers.
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