Dorothy Wilson, a Group Health patient, says she feels split by Thursday’s announcement that nurses and other non-physician staff members plan a five-day strike beginning Aug. 23.
Wilson, who lives in Marysville, said she is concerned about patient care. But as a former 13-year employee working in a dietary unit of Group Health’s Capitol Hill facility in Seattle, she also has taken part in her union’s contract negotiations.
“It puts me at the halfway point,” she said. “I hate to see it happen. I can understand both sides.”
Wilson was at Group Health’s Everett Medical Center on Thursday when she heard that the Service Employees International Union’s 2,200 nurses, medical assistants, social workers, therapists and other staff in Western Washington will walk off their jobs from 7 a.m. Aug. 23 to 11:59 p.m. Aug. 27.
The two sides are split over health coverage, including co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions. Federal law requires health care workers to give 10 days’ notice before striking.
Group Health officials said if the two sides can’t come to an agreement before the strike, they plan to use non-union supervisors and perhaps temporary employees to keep offices open, including medical centers in Everett and Lynnwood.
“We will be open normal hours and taking care of patients,” said Pam Selnes, administrator for Everett Medical Center, which serves 20,114 patients.
Lynnwood’s center serves 16,473 patients, spokeswoman Laura Query said.
In Lynnwood, 26 out of 95 employees are represented by the union, said Larry Yok, Group Health human resources director. In Everett, 39 of the clinic’s 182 employees are represented by the union, he said.
Asked if patients should expect longer waits due to the strike, Yok said, “At this point, we’ve been told that the medical centers expect to operate as normally as possible.”
However, Cyndy Meade, a medical assistant on the union’s bargaining committee, wondered if the clinics could continue to operate normally with missing staff.
“It shouldn’t have gotten to this point,” Meade said. “We would like this just to resolve.”
“Our intention is to continue to negotiate,” Query said. “It’s our sincere hope we can come to a resolution.”
The strike would not affect Group Health’s Eastside Hospital in Redmond.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
Group Health in Snohomish County
Everett Medical Center, 2930 Maple St., Everett
Patients: 20,114
Employees: 182
Lynnwood Medical Center, 20200 54th Ave. W., Lynnwood
Patients: 16,473
Employees: 95
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
