Valley Medical workers picket for higher wages, sick leave | Photos

After months of negotiations, healthcare workers at Valley Medical Center in Renton formed an informational picket line last week, highlighting what they call an urgent need for a fair contract.

From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11, hundreds of service workers, registered nurses, pharmacists, case management social workers, licensed practical nurses and other union workers, along with their supporters, took over the sidewalks at Talbot Road South and South Carr Road.

“We’re here today because more than 2,400 healthcare workers at Valley, united in SEIU Healthcare 1199 Northwest, are fighting for a fair contract that reflects our values as frontline workers,” said Jordan Middleton, a registered nurse (RN) in Valley’s Birth Center. SEIU stands for Service Employees International Union and 1199NW is the local chapter.

According to SEIU, the current sick leave system at Valley Medical Center is not efficient enough for many employees, whom the union says are without enough hours to “take care of their own health or the health of their families, or [are] unable to access existing hours due to restrictions.”

“We are asking for more wages and sick hours and vacation hours. We are part of UW, so they can match us with UW, but we want them to listen, but they are not listening to us,” said Birpal Bhangu, a patient care assistant (PCA) in Cardiac Telemetry at Valley. “So we are trying to do the public action, so the public can help us and stand with us.”

A press release from SEIU says that the union workers’ proposals would align Valley Medical Center’s sick leave system with the rest of UW Medicine and that there have been 14 bargaining sessions since April.

“It all comes down to patient care and patient safety. Everything that we are coming to the bargaining table and demanding all has to do with, ultimately, keeping our patients safe and healthy and taken care of, which we can’t do if we are not also safe and taken care of,” said Middleton.

The Reporter reached out to Valley’s communications director Kristin Bidwill, who said, “Valley and SEIU have been in contract negotiations since April and bargaining is complex, spanning six separate contracts. The contracts expired June 30, but all working terms remain in place until new ones are ratified. While we can’t discuss details of the negotiations, Valley has responded to all of SEIU’s proposals and has made significant movement on their stated top priorities in addition to offering other significant contract improvements. Patient safety, care and comfort remain our top priority while negotiations continue.”

According to Valley, because of the hospital’s status as a Public District Hospital, staff cannot legally go on strike or participate in work stoppages or slow downs. Valley also distinguished itself as a separate entity from UW Medicine that has different benefits from state employees.

“What they’re not going to tell you is that with every single proposal that they give, there are significant takeaways that they want for our next contract that we are not willing as workers, especially at the bargaining table, to take those proposals back to our coworkers and say, ‘Is this good for you guys?’ Those takeaways feel like one step forward, but two steps back every time,” said Middleton.

As an informational picket, workers were able to come out to the sidewalk during breaks and during their off-time, marching with signs, cheering along to the countless honks in solidarity from passersby and chanting together.

Around 1 p.m., several speeches were made by union members and local politicians, including Renton City Councilmembers Kim-Khánh Văn and Carmen Rivera, and Washington State Rep. Mia Gregerson of the 33rd District. Some speakers were executive board members of 1199NW like Swedish Issaquah RN Carol Lightle, Harborview Respiratory Therapist Neeru Kaur and Harborview RN Meni Tale. Erin Adamson of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) and 1199NW President and RN Jane Hopkins also spoke to the crowd.

“I gave birth here but I also was a patient here prior to that when I had a car accident, and you all took care of me, you took care of my family. You took care of a community. It’s time for us to take care of you. We need to take care of the people who take care of us,” said Van.

Rivera also talked about her personal connections to Valley, saying that she was born at the hospital and that her parents were taken care of there when they needed medical care.

“Our nurses, those who work in these hospitals, that deal with our highs and our lows, and everything in between, should be treated with the utmost respect and given a fair, not even fair enough, standing wage,” said Rivera. “You should not have to work three and a half months for 12 hours of sick leave. You deserve so much better. I will whatever I can to fight for you.”

Closing out the speeches was Hopkins, who said that 36,000 union members are behind the Valley workers.

“Our fight today is about our values. We believe that healthcare workers need to have sick time. We believe that healthcare workers need to have good wages. We believe that when we’re united, we get what we need,” she said.

On the 1199NW website, the union thanked the speakers and several other labor unions and supporters, including Valley Hospital District Commissioner Anthony Berkley, Asian Pacific American Labor Association, OPEIU Local 8, GABRIELA Seattle, Restaurant Opportunities Center United, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, Renton Firefighters IAFF 864, Washington Federation of State Employees, SEIU Committee of Interns and Residents, Starbucks Workers United, American Federation of Teachers and International Association of Machinists Local 751, who are currently on strike at Boeing.

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Renton City Councilmember Carmen Rivera passionately speaks to crowd, saying that she will fight for hospital workers.

Photos by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing Renton City Councilmember Kim-Khánh Van spoke to the crowd, ending her speech with “When we fight, we win!”

Photos by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing. Signs at the picket said things like, “Safe staffing now” and “Respect us, pay us.”

Photos by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing SEIU workers at Valley Medical picket for higher wages and better sick leave, among other demands.

Birpal Bhangu (center) is a patient care assistant (PCA) at Valley.

Washington State Rep. Mia Gregerson of the 33rd District spoke at the informational picket. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.

Jordan Middleton and Birpal Bhangu speak to the crowd at the informational picket. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.

The informational picket was at the intersection of Carr Road and Talbot Road in front of Valley Medical Center. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.