THURSDAY: Healthcare workers to rally at Kaiser Permanente in Bellevue, Spokane, and Tacoma

THURSDAY: Healthcare workers to rally at Kaiser Permanente Washington in Bellevue, Spokane, and Tacoma

Frontline workers are calling on Kaiser to make significant investments in workforce, fix chronic under-staffing, and provide safe staffing levels

Healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente Washington united in SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and OPEIU Local 8 will hold joint rallies Thursday, July 27 at 5PM in Bellevue, Spokane and Tacoma to sound the alarm on the short-staffing crisis and its effects on patients and caregivers. The workers rallied in Seattle the previous day, July 26.

More than 3,000 healthcare workers across 35+ worksites in Washington state united in SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and OPEIU Local 8 have completed a handful of bargaining sessions. The workers see local negotiations as an opportunity for Kaiser Permanente Washington to become a leader in wages, benefits, worker morale, patient access, and care. The workers’ bargaining proposals address the barriers to recruitment and retention that exacerbate the staffing crisis.

Additional actions will be held the same week at Kaiser Permanente facilities in California, Oregon, and Colorado. Together, workers at those facilities form the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, representing more than 85,000 healthcare workers in seven states and the District of Columbia. The Coalition began its national bargaining process in April.

WHO:
Rallying workers will be joined by community supporters, neighbors, and local elected officials

WHEN:
Thursday, July 27 | 5-7:30 PM

WHERE:

• Bellevue: Corner of 116th Ave NE & NE 8th St near Kaiser Permanente Bellevue Medical Center
• Spokane: N Washington St. near Kaiser Permanente Riverfront Medical Center
• Tacoma: Northwest corner of Wright Park on 501 S I St. near Kaiser Permanente Tacoma Medical Center

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About SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW is a union of nurses and healthcare workers with over 31,000 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 and good jobs for all.

About OPEIU Local 8
OPEIU Local 8 is a progressive, democratically run union working for social and economic justice since 1945. Local 8 represents more than 7,200 members all over Washington state working in many settings including offices, health and home care, housing, social services, the insurance industry, legal services and the public sector. Local 8 belongs to the 110,000-member strong Office and Professional Employees International Union.