Providence Centralia Hospital
More than 65 percent of the 260 unionized Providence Centralia nurses stood their ground on their contract disputes on paid time off, wages and worker retention by voting Tuesday to approve a strike authorization.
The nurses are not currently on strike. The union will give Providence 10-days notice when they definitively decide to strike.
The Centralia facility is the latest among other Providence hospital sites — including Providence Sacred Heart and Holy Family in Everett and Providence St. Mary’s in Walla Walla — in which nurses have declared their approval of a strike authorization as members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW 21).
Providence St. Peter Hospital may soon be the fourth medical facility with striking nurses, as the Olympia site’s union members are scheduled to vote Wednesday after The Chronicle’s press time.
Diane Stedham-Jewell, a 41-year Providence Centralia nurse and UFCW 21 shop steward, commented on Tuesday’s referendum to The Chronicle minutes after the voting had concluded Tuesday night.
“The votes were just counted and with a great turnout from Providence RNs (registered nurses), the results are an overwhelming yes to authorize the strike. Great job, members,” she sent in a text message.
Talks to negotiate a new contract for Providence Centralia nurses, she noted, will continue on Nov. 14, as union members and corporate management hope to come to a meeting of the minds.
As previously reported by The Chronicle on Oct. 25, the previous contract for Providence Centralia nurses expired on June 25.
UFCW 21 Special Projects Director Tom Geiger shared the next steps for Providence nurses representing seven statewide hospitals.
“Hopefully, (the) employer will be willing to negotiate by fixing the major issues around earned time off, wages and unfair labor practices. If not, then the union members’ bargaining teams and the union will need to assess if/when it makes sense to move forward with a strike plan.”
If a decision is made to move forward with a strike at one or multiple facilities, he stated, Providence’s corporate leadership would be issued 10-days notice.
Stedham-Jewell and her fellow nurses remain hopeful of both both sides coming to terms on a new agreement so that the nursing staff can continue to carry out their life’s mission of
administering “care” to their patients.
Meanwhile the hospital’s corporate communications department maintains that “the hospital is prepared to continue bargaining in good faith” toward a new deal.
