Upkeep and repair union staff at a West Virginia hospital went on strike Wednesday after their contract expired.
About 1,000 members of the the Service Staff Worldwide Union District 1999 walked off the job at midday at Cabell Huntington Hospital, one of many largest employers in Huntington, West Virginia.
In a press release, union district secretary-treasurer Joyce Gibson mentioned hospital officers “have repeatedly made it clear that they worth earnings over staff and sufferers.”
Cabell Huntington Chief Working Officer Tim Martin mentioned the hospital was disillusioned that staff rejected a wage and advantages provide.
“Cabell Huntington Hospital has labored in good religion since August, all through the calls for of COVID, to achieve a good contract with a beneficiant bundle of advantages,” Martin mentioned in a press release.
The hospital’s provide included 3% common annual wage will increase, elevated shift differentials, an enhanced uniform allowance and continued automated annual contributions to eligible staff’ retirement accounts.
Service staff additionally have been requested to start paying medical insurance premiums. Below the hospital’s newest provide, it could have contributed greater than 90% of healthcare prices for workers and their dependents.
Martin mentioned alternative service staff are actually helping with each day hospital operations.
Gibson mentioned the hospital is “paying contracted exterior staff who are usually not invested in our group, relatively than handle their devoted long-term staff.”
