MEDIA ADVISORY:
For Thursday, September 2, 2021
CONTACT:
Amy Clark
amyc@seiu1199nw.org
425-306-2061
SUPPORT FOR CASCADE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SAFETY STRIKERS GROWS
Thursday rally for safe patient care to feature elected officials, labor and community leaders
TUKWILA—Nurses and healthcare workers on safety strike at Cascade Behavioral Health are marking the start of their second month on the strike line with a rally for safe patient care. Rally speakers will include elected officials, labor leaders and other prominent community supporters.
***To attend or interview workers, please RSVP to Amy Clark, 425-306-2061***
WHO: Rep. David Hackney (11th LD), Tukwila City Council Member Cynthia Delostrinos Johnson, labor and community leaders, and safety strikers of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW at Cascade Behavioral Health
WHAT: Rally for Safe Patient Care
WHEN: Thurs., Sept. 2, 11 am
WHERE: Cascade Behavioral Health picket line, 12844 Military Rd S, Tukwila
Abnormally unsafe working conditions at Cascade Behavioral Heath speak to a pattern of safety lapses and short staffing that seem built into the profit-driven business model of Acadia Healthcare, Cascade’s publicly traded parent company. Chronic understaffing, absence of trained security staff, failure to make timely repairs, and a practice of filling all available beds regardless of the appropriateness for patient care have all been reported by workers at Cascade, who see their employer prioritizing profits over patient care.
In 2019 Acadia was found guilty of Medicaid fraud for significantly overcharging for lab tests. In a settlement reached with the Department of Justice, Acadia paid $17 million to the United States and $2.2 million to the state of West Virginia, the largest fraud settlement in West Virginia’s history at that time.
At Cascade, workers have proposed hiring security staff and improving staffing levels as measures to address the unsafe working conditions. Cascade management has responded with a proposed $1,500 contract signing bonus that would require workers to commit to staying at Cascade for three years—or be forced to pay back the entire amount.
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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 western Montana. SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s mission is to advocate for quality care and good jobs for all.