PORT ANGELES — After 16 months of stalled labor negotiations, Olympic Medical Center has approved new workers’ contracts with members of Service Employees International Union 1199 NW — without the union’s support.
The six commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve the contract after negotiations reached an impasse Jan. 16.
SEIU Healthcare represents about 350 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, emergency room technicians, dietary workers, housekeeping staff and others at the Port Angeles hospital.
When negotiations for better health care benefits and guaranteed staffing levels came to a head last summer, the union threatened an 18-hour walkout Aug. 11.
OMC filed an injunction, and a Kitsap County Superior Court judge ruled the strike was illegal because the union members are public employees.
Christy Wright, an emergency room nurse at OMC, said staffing shortages are contributing to a chaotic environment in the ER.
“It’s like a battlefield, truly,” said Wright shortly before Wednesday’s vote.
“And it gets really scary when you don’t even know where you’re going to put this next ambulance patient that’s coming.”
Linda Bryant, an operating room nurse, urged the governing board to vote no on the impasse and “do what’s best for our patients.”
“The impact this is going to have on this community and this hospital I don’t think you’re grasping,” Bryant said.
Hospital officials countered that the contracts for SEIU members were the same as for other union-represented employees and management.
A survey of a dozen Western Washington hospitals found that OMC was paying an average of $2,800 more per employee for medical and retirement benefits than the average, Chief Executive Officer Eric Lewis said.
“We don’t have the money from Medicare and Medicaid and other sources of revenue to continue to fund an above-market total benefits plan,” Lewis said.
“We’ve already made adjustments to everybody in management, including myself. We negotiated with five UFCW [United Food and Commercial Workers] unions and revised benefits packages.
“Now, we have over 700 employes on the revised benefit package, including retirement and medical. SEIU employees are the last ones on the high cost of $16,508 per employee.”
Chief Human Resource Officer Richard Newman provided a summary of the contract proposal that commissioners approved.
Highlights include:
■ A first-year raise of 3 percent for nurses, a 3.5 percent raise for service employees and a 4 percent raise for dietary employees.
SEIU and other hospital workers would not receive a second longevity step raise in the first year.
■ A second-year increase of 1 percent for each group. Employees would resume their annual longevity increase, which averages 2 percent.
■ Workers’ pay would be open to negotiations in the third year.
SEIU employees have the same medical, short-term disability and retirement package as everyone else at the hospital, union or non-union, Newman said.
Before the vote, Nelson Cone of Port Angeles said OMC has done well to purchase up-to-date equipment to provide “the best services available for the public.”
“But I would like to remind you, the biggest asset of this hospital is its employees,” Cone said.
State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, called on both sides to agree to binding arbitration to settle the dispute.
“This stalemate has persisted far too long and is dividing our community at a time when we need to be standing together,” Van De Wege said in a Thursday news release.
“Binding arbitration is a thorough, fair and final process that allows both sides to present their cases. It’s time to do this, accept the outcome and move forward.”
John Miles, OMC board chairman, said the hospital “must control costs to remain locally owned.”
“OMC continues to face unprecedented financial pressure as we move into 2012,” Miles said.
“We’re trying to prevent layoffs, which many hospitals are forced to do.”
After the commissioners approved the SEIU contracts, more than a dozen union members and their supporters left the room in protest.
“That’s horrible. That’s disgusting,” one said.
Said another: “Shame on all of you.”
Commissioner John Nutter said the frustration has been directed at the board because it has the final say.
“However, we have a very limited pool of funds that is shrinking on a daily basis,” Nutter said.
“As an elected official, my responsibility is to this community, and we’re going to make decisions that are in the best interests of this community in maintaining a locally controlled medical center.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
