More than 750 Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health workers plan to strike Nov. 8 and 9 over alleged unfair labor practices.
The workers, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 49, are at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, and the Unity Center for Behavioral Health, all in Portland. They include certified nursing assistants, emergency department technicians, central sterile employees, food and nutrition workers and others.
In a news release, SEIU said the workers notified Legacy Health of their intent to strike after filing unfair labor practice charges against Legacy Health, claiming the organization engaged in "bad faith bargaining of excessive healthcare cost increases." SEIU also claims Legacy Health interfered with workers' union rights.
Legacy Health expressed disappointment in the union's decision to send a strike notice.
"The SEIU is telling people that they are going on strike because Legacy has committed unfair labor practices. The SEIU has filed a number of ULP [unfair labor practice] charges against Legacy, which currently are being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board. We deny that we have committed any unfair labor practices. We have been working since late June to try to reach agreement with the SEIU team, but they have been unwilling to meet us on some key issues," Legacy Health said in a memo to employees.
A primary sticking point in negotiations is health insurance. Legacy Health said it offers all employees, including those represented by SEIU, the same benefits and will continue to do that.
Union representatives claim Legacy Health failed to provide information related to SEIU's health insurance bargaining and proposes increases to healthcare costs.
Regarding plans during the strike, Legacy Health said it "will continue to serve our patients, and will get the work done with other Legacy employees and contractors."