MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Following months of negotiations with no agreement, union workers at WVU Hospitals have threatened to go on strike at the beginning of 2017.
Laborer’s Union Local 814 issued a ten-day strike notice to WVUH officials Thursday, Dec. 22. More than 900 workers could walk out January 1.
“We are scheduled to go back to the table the 26th at 11 o’clock,” confirmed Chris Cordwell, the union business manager. “Our goal is not to go out on strike. Our goal is to keep people working if possible. Right now, negotiations aren’t going really well.”
The current 3-year contract expires Dec. 31.
A statement from WVUH defended a proposal workers denied.
“We are disappointed that the members of Local 814 did not approve the contract offered for voting earlier this week.
We believe this was a very fair proposal that would continue to place our workers at the highest levels of compensation and benefits compared to other hospitals in the state.”
Cordwell said union members don’t feel like they are being compensated as well as non union members.
“They’re wanting to raise our deductibles and premiums. As far as a raise, they’re not wanting to give a substantial raise to actually cover the premiums and benefits they’re wanting to charge.”
The union includes workers in a number of WVUH departments.
“We have sterile processing. We take care of the operating room. We have dietary, medical assistant, materials, laundry, environmental services (workers) and patient care assistants,” listed Cordwell.
WVUH reports having plans in place “to ensure the continued care and safety of our patients” in the event continued negotiations fail past the contract’s expiration date.
In December 2013, after failed negotiations, a strike was avoided with a contract extension under the terms at the time while discussions continued to finalize a 3-year agreement.
With more than a week to go before the end of the month, Cordwell said the union doesn’t favor a similar temporary resolution.
“The hospital requested an extension. The union feels there’s no extension necessary because we have time to get this done. So, it actually lies on the hospital. The union is willing and ready to sit down and negotiation 12, 14, 16 hours or whatever it’s going to take. The hospital won’t put people at the table to make decisions,” Cordwell claimed.