MEDIA ADVISORY
July 26, 2024
Behavioral Healthcare Workers at Compass Health will Picket to Demand Strong Contract with Fair Pay, Benefits, and Investment in Care
BELLINGHAM, WA — More than 350 behavioral healthcare workers united in SEIU Healthcare 1199NW at 26 Compass Health facilities in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island, and San Juan counties will hold informational pickets and rallies on July 29, August 1, and August 3 to call on Compass Health administration to invest in recruitment and retention by settling a strong union contract.
The workers delivered the legally required 10-day notice of intent to hold an informational picket to Compass CEO Tom Sebastian last Friday. After negotiating for more than 16 months, the two sides remain far apart on issues related to wages and benefits; Compass administrators have refused to adopt proposals at the bargaining table that would help retain qualified behavioral health workers with fair wages and affordable healthcare, instead proposing cuts to the workers’ healthcare benefits. The latest bargaining session took place July 25.
The bargaining unit comprises counselors, clinicians, medical assistants, substance use disorder counselors, crisis responders, including designated crisis responders, nurses, mental health technicians, and other job classes. A lack of competitive wages has led to alarming rates of staff turnover, potentially compromising the care patients receive at Compass and affecting the mental healthcare landscape of Western Washington.
Community members are invited to join Compass behavioral healthcare workers on the picket line to stand with them, learn more about their fight for a strong union contract, and add their voices to the workers’ call: Supporting communities starts with supporting workers.
WHO: The behavioral healthcare workers of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW at 26 Compass Health facilities in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island, San Juan counties.
WHAT: Informational picket and rallies calling on Compass Health to invest in care by settling a strong contract with behavioral healthcare workers.
WHEN: July 29, August 1, August 3.
Picket at Compass Health in Bellingham
Monday, July 29, 2024
3645 E McLeod Rd., Bellingham
12-1 p.m.
Picket and Rally at Compass Health E&T in Mukilteo
Thursday, August 1, 2024
10710 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo
4-6 p.m.
Rally in Bellingham
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Maritime Heritage Park, 500 W Holly Street, Bellingham
11 a.m.
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About SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is a union of nurses and healthcare workers with over 33,000 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, good jobs, and economic empowerment for all.