LOCAL
3-day strike set at Behavioral Health Resources
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.