SEATTLE, Wash.-Kaiser Permanente Washington healthcare workers will join a nationwide picket line if workers vote to authorize a strike later this week.
According to SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, which represents approximately 3,000 healthcare workers at 36 KPWA locations around the state, the results of the vote to strike or not will be released in a virtual press conference on Friday, October 13.
The current KPWA healthcare workers contract runs through October 31, if the union decides to join the strike with this week’s vote, workers in Washington would join the picket line on November 1.
KPWA members are negotiating over concerns about staffing shortages that could lead to long wait times, misdiagnoses and neglect according to a press release on the upcoming vote.
Jane Hopkins, registered nurse and president of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, issued a statement on the potential vote to join the strike that read in part:
“The thousands of Washington healthcare workers in SEIU Healthcare 1199NW are proud to stand with our union siblings as we fight together for a fair contract that ensures safety for our members and better care for patients.”
