Sign the petition: Cascade safety matters!

Healthcare workers walk off job at Cascade Behavioral Health over unsafe conditions, understaffing

TUKWILA (Aug. 13, 2021) — More than 100 healthcare workers at Cascade Behavioral Health care for some of the most vulnerable psychiatric and chemical dependency patients in their community. But instead of prioritizing safe patient care or treating workers with respect, Cascade workers represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW report that parent company Acadia has fostered an abnormally unsafe work environment, with severe understaffing, decrepit facilities, a shocking lack of COVID-19 protections, and no security for staff and patients.

TAKE A STAND — Please support Cascade workers by signing this community petition telling Cascade management that it’s time to put patient and worker safety over corporate profits. Learn more at CascadeSafetyMatters.org.

On Thursday, Cascade workers and their supporters gathered for an informational picket outside the Tukwila facility to continue sending their message: “Our community won’t stand for a for-profit corporation like Acadia abusing workers and putting the safety of patients and the community at risk. We’re demanding that they settle a fair union contract and fully address the abnormally unsafe working conditions in the hospital.”

On Aug. 1, registered nurse Kim Rowe told the Kent Reporter that an unruly patient stole a security badge and gained access to offices, which they proceeded to vandalize. Eventually, 15 staff members were recruited to try and detain the patient. When they attempted to apprehend the patient, 11 staff members of the 15 were injured, four of which were sent to the emergency room with severe injuries. She said one staff member was injured so badly, they had to be taken to the hospital in a stretcher and put on oxygen.

Please take a moment to sign the community petition in support of these workers.

► From the Kent Reporter — Cascade Behavioral Health workers strike after incident involving violent patient — On Aug. 1, workers at Cascade Behavioral Health in Tukwila went on strike after a dangerous incident involving a patient. SEIU Healthcare 1199NW stated that the workers organized a “safety strike” after an “incident of workplace violence hospitalized one worker and injured others, and threatened the safety of numerous patients.”