MEDIA ADVISORY:
Aug. 18, 2021
CONTACT:
Amy Clark
amyc@seiu1199nw.org
425.306.2061
Healthcare Workers to hold Aug. 19 Press Conference announcing Picket at Kadlec Regional Medical Center
Caregivers will share concerns about staffing, recruitment and retention at Kadlec
WHO: Healthcare workers from SEIU Healthcare 1199NW at Kadlec Regional Medical Center and community allies, including West Richland City Council Member Kate Moran.
WHAT: Press conference announcing informational picket at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.
WHEN: Thurs., Aug. 19, 11 am
WHERE: Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Emergency entrance, 888 Swift Blvd., Richland.
RICHLAND— Kadlec Regional Medical Center healthcare workers who are members of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW will hold a press conference Thursday to announce the date of their planned informational picket and share their concerns about patient care at Kadlec.
The workers, who hold service and tech jobs in the hospital, have been in bargaining with Providence-Kadlec since November 2020. They say that while Providence-Kadlec management has called workers “heroes” throughout the pandemic, their proposals at the bargaining table don’t match their praise in public.
Healthcare workers are burned out and on the brink of leaving for the better pay and working conditions offered at other area hospitals. Meanwhile, Kadlec started 2021 with more total patient revenue, net patient service revenue & total operating revenue than any other year in the last five years. Frontline workers say it’s time for Providence to invest that revenue back into patient care here in the Tri-Cities.
###
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.