MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: Monday, November 8, 2021
Contact on behalf of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW:
Libby Smelker, Libby@617mediagroup.com, (617) 485-4801
Community supporters join workers Monday morning to cheer the courageous workers’ victory for patient and worker safety
TUKWILA, WA — United in their determination to ensure better patient care and safety on the job, the healthcare workers at Cascade Behavioral Health who walked out in August on a safety strike will return to their facility on Monday, November 8 having secured a tentative agreement with Cascade, a 137-bed behavioral health facility owned by Acadia Healthcare.
After three and a half months on a safety strike, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW caregivers at Cascade Behavioral Health in Tukwila, Washington have reached a three-year tentative agreement with management that satisfies workers’ immediate demands for a safer facility for all. Most of the safety strikers were women, many of whom are also immigrants and workers of color.
The tentative agreement, reached Friday, November 5, addresses the workers’ core safety demands, including that Cascade hire dedicated security staff. Under this agreement, all frontline safety strikers will be guaranteed job protection and the right to return to work on Monday, November 8.
Caregivers will return to their hospital for their first shift since the strike at 8:30am PST on Monday, November 8.
WHO: Former healthcare safety strikers, family members and supporters
WHAT: First shift returning to work after 3.5-month safety strike
WHEN: Monday, November 8 – RALLY at 8:30 am, Walk-in at 9:00 am PST
WHERE: Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital, 12844 Military Rd S, Tukwila
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members at Cascade Behavioral Health will vote to ratify the tentative agreements on Tuesday, November 9 and Wednesday, November 10. The tentative agreements cover 220 workers in three units: RNs, LPNs, mental health techs and service workers.
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About SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is a union of nurses and healthcare workers with over 32,000 caregivers throughout hospitals, clinics, mental health, skilled home health and hospice programs in Washington state and Montana. SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s mission is to advocate for quality care and good jobs for all.
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and Cascade Behavioral Health are engaged in a labor dispute.