Pickets, rally today to support nurses at Providence Everett

EVERETT (March 17, 2015) — Providence Everett nurses have been in contract negotiations since September 2014 to replace a contract that expires at the end of October. There have been 15 negotiation sessions, including several over the last month held with a federal mediator, and still the nearly 1,400 nurses represented by UFCW Local 21 have been unable to get a fair contract that protects patient safety.

Today, members of the community are encouraged to come out to show support for the nurses. They will conduct informational picketing at 1 p.m. at Providence’s Pacific Campus, 916 Pacific Ave. in Everett, and at 2:30 p.m. at the Colby Campus, 1700 13th St. The day’s activities will conclude with a rally at 5:30 p.m. at Drew Nielsen Park, 1230 Colby Ave.

Nurses and community supporters held leafleting actions at Providence Everett in February and again earlier this month to inform the public about hospital management’s intransigence, but there’s still been a failure to make significant progress toward a compromise.

“I am shocked, frustrated and concerned that the Providence management team is still not able to hear our priorities for healthcare cost containment, staffing protections, safety and having a respected voice in our workplace,” said Jane Teske, RN NICU and member of the union bargaining team after the March 5 session. “Management’s lack of response is concerning.”

Please show your support today for nurses in the Everett community.

For more information, visit the UFCW 21 Providence United Facebook page.