3-day strike set at Behavioral Health Resources

More than 250 SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members at Behavioral Health Resources (BHR), which provides mental health and addiction services in Thurston, Mason and Grays Harbor counties, have given their employer notice to engage in an unfair labor practice strike from this Friday, March 14 at 8 a.m. to Monday, March 17 at 7:59 a.m.

The Executive Board of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO has unanimously voted to grant strike sanction and to support BRC employees’ efforts to achieve a fair contract.

“For years BHR staff have been making sacrifices to shore up the organization’s finances, and yet it’s still floundering,” reads a statement by BHR employees. “We gave up nearly $400,000, mostly from our retirement fund, and we’ve foregone raises for 7 years. Certainly after we’ve given up so much we should have a say to help rescue the organization, yet management won’t work with us.”

TAKE A STAND! — Sign an online petition at www.savebhr.com in support of the BHR employees and then support them during their 3-day strike at the following locations:

ELMA — Adult & Children Services., 575 E. Main, Suite C

HOQUIAM — Adult Services, 205 8th St.
— Grays Harbor Crisis Clinic, 615 8th St.

LACEY — Medical Services, 4422 6th Ave.

OLYMPIA — Adults & Children Services and Admin, 3855/3857/3859 Martin Way E.
— Evaluation and Treatment Center, 3436 Mary Elder Road

SHELTON — Adult & Children Services, 110 W. K St.

TUMWATER — Tumwater Gardens, 1275 2nd Ave. SW

BHR employees say that while systemic change is needed to resolve all of the issues within BHR, mismanagement, a “shame and blame” atmosphere, wages demands and cuts to medical benefits are all reasons for their current labor problems.

For more information, see the March 8 report in the (Aberdeen) Daily World: BHR union members cite “all-time low” in morale as they prepare to strike.