Spokane SEIU members stand together at NLRB trial against CHS
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members were in the courtroom and on the stand this week in Spokane to share their testimony against Community Health Systems, the owner of Deaconess and Valley hospitals in Spokane. The National Labor Relations Board took Community Health Systems to court this week for eight counts of breaking federal labor law, including its failure to engage in good faith bargaining with our union and illegal solicitation of employees' union sympathies.
Matt Cohrs, a CT Tech at Valley, thought he was having a regular conversation with his manager in 2008 when his manager asked him, what has the union done for you?
Matt told his manager that because of our union, we have greater job protections, improved wages, and a solid voice to make a difference on healthcare issues at the state and national level.
His manager then told Matt they should decertify their union, and then told Matt how he should do it. That's illegal.
Matt shared this story on the witness stand as one of the eight Unfair Labor Practice charges the National Labor Relations Board is bringing against CHS.
Community Health Systems, based in Nashville, Tennessee, bought Deaconess and Valley hospitals in Spokane in 2008. Since then, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members at these two hospitals have been working to settle a fair contract with CHS.
CHS owns more than 100 hospitals nation-wide, and promised to maintain a full range of services and to retain current employees and their benefits when it purchased the two hospitals. Since then, CHS has laid-off healthcare workers, reduced trauma care, and closed the movement disorder clinic for Parkinson’s patients.
“CHS made $243 million in profits last year alone. They’re putting their profits before their promises,” said Teri Nicholson, RN at Valley Hospital & Medical Center. “We’re standing behind our healthcare services and sending a message to Community Health Systems that it’s time to be fair.”
SEIU members at Deaconess and Valley held an informational picket at their hospitals in April of 2009, and rallied Tuesday outside the courthouse as the trial began. The NLRB hearing was postponed Tuesday afternoon, and CHS has agreed to return to the bargaining table to settle a contract next week. If no agreement is reached, the NLRB trial against CHS resumes on Tuesday, July 27.