PeaceHealth employees announce five-day strike after months of bargaining

[Omaha Steve]

Striking workers at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and its labs picket in Bellingham, Washington in 2015. The Bellingham Herald

By Rachel Showalter
Updated May 2, 2025 12:36 PM

After more than eight months of bargaining, more than 900 health care workers at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center filed a notice with the hospital on Thursday of their intention to strike for five days starting May 12. What the employees are calling an “unfair labor practice strike” comes after a super majority of employees voted to authorize it. It will begin at 6 a.m. May 12 and end at 7 a.m. May 17.

What the employees are calling an “unfair labor practice strike” comes after a super majority of employees voted to authorize it. It will begin at 6 a.m. May 12 and end at 7 a.m. May 17.

“The last thing we want to do is go on strike,” said Courtney Sly, a trauma registrar who has worked at PeaceHealth for 18 years, in an announcement about the impending strike. “We’d rather be caring for patients. But we need a fair contract that prioritizes patient care by providing fair wages to our skilled and dedicated work force.”

“PeaceHealth is paying huge salaries to executives while staff responsible for providing essential care and services are struggling to afford housing and other basic needs,” Sly said.

FULL story at: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article305513211.html