Union pickets OMC
August 11th, 2011 - 5:56am
(Port Angeles) -- Members of SEIU 1199NW will picket Olympic Medical Center today.
The union will walk informational picket lines and plans a rally for five this afternoon.
The union for nurses, dietary and service workers at OMC had planned a one-day work stoppage today. But a Kitsap County judge issued a 14-day injunction stopping the strike, calling it a possible illegal work action since the union members are public employees.
The union now says it's members will walk picket lines before and after their shifts, and during lunches and breaks today.
24th District Representative Kevin Van De Wege plans to attend and speak in support of the union during this afternoon's rally.
The union is rejecting an offer from OMC to have its employees pay more for their health benefits. Under the proposal, employees would still have 100 percent of their benefits paid. They'd have to pay about 93 dollars a month toward coverage of their children. Currently, OMC pays all of those premiums.
OMC officials say it has to keep employee costs in check. The hospital district is facing dwindling revenues due to poor Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, the bad economy and a large jump in charity care OMC must provide.
OMC and the union were back again at the bargaining table late last week. There is no word on any new talks.
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