Yakima Valley Memorial workers stand up for quality care, quality jobs

More than 500 service healthcare workers at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, including dietary and janitorial workers, nursing assistants, registration staff, transporters, physical therapy aides, unit secretaries, and others will stand up for quality care and jobs with an informational picket at the hospital on Friday, March 14.

As the hospital moves ahead with a possible new partnership or affiliation, it continues to stall on contract negotiations for healthcare workers.

“We’re proud to care for our community and we’re the heart of the hospital. But as Memorial looks at new partners, we need to ensure the hospital will protect care standards and jobs,” said Raul Lopez, a physical therapy aide at the hospital and member of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

“We think the hospital’s priority should be ensuring care and jobs are protected for our community,” said Gilbert Navarro, a materials handler. “But their delays aren’t good for Yakima and we’re standing up to call on them to do the right thing for care.”

A community rally is scheduled for 5:00 pm outside of the hospital.

Service healthcare workers at the hospital, who joined our union in 2012, have been working to settle their first contract for more than a year. More than 600 Registered Nurses at Memorial are also members of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.