900 healthcare workers for Bellingham PeaceHealth Hospital go on strike

PeaceHealth Hospital in Bellingham saw hundreds of workers walk off the job Monday morning.

Approximately 900 employees, including doctors, medical techs, and housekeeping staff, walked out of work Monday. This could impact any and all processes within the hospital, from surgeries to flipping rooms for new patients.

The hospital’s striking workers are represented by two unions, SEIU 1199NW and UAPD—both pushing for a new contract that includes higher pay and better benefits, claiming that PeaceHealth executives are receiving huge salaries, while the staff is barely making ends meet for themselves and their families.

“Bellingham PeaceHealth is the most profitable of all their locations in Washington, but they don’t seem to care that members of their own staff are living in the cars, or that we stock a food pantry for our colleagues who can meet their own basic needs because the pay is so low,” Jose Reta, an MRI technician at PeaceHealth St. Joe’s, told KIRO 7. “I’ll be joining my coworkers on strike because PeaceHealth has shown us they just don’t care.”

PeaceHealth is a nonprofit healthcare system based in Vancouver with nine hospitals and medical clinics in the state.

The strategy regarding the strike

They plan on remaining on the picking line for five straight days. A spokesperson for Peace Health told The Bellingham Herald they’re deeply disappointed in this decision, but they have temporary replacement workers in place as bargaining continues.

Contract negotiations have been in the works for eight months, according to the union.

KIRO Newsradio has reached out to PeaceHealth for a comment on the walkout and is waiting to hear back.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

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