Cabell-Huntington Hospital Strike Continues: Union Members' Healthcare Benefits Cut, RX's Declined

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Wed Nov 17, 2021, 06:07 PM - Edit history (1)

- Almost 1,000 union hospital workers went on strike. Day 1- Nov. 3, 2021 news report.
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- CBS13 Local News, *Updated Nov. 11, 2021.

HUNTINGTON, WV (WOWK) – The workers’ strike at Cabell-Huntington Hospital continues and on Wednesday they received some tough news. This strike is now in its second week and now the stakes just got even higher. Union officials say all service and maintenance workers in the union have had their healthcare benefits cut off by the Cabell-Huntington Hospital administration.

(Cabell Huntington Hospital workers walk out as strike begins- *Link to Nov. 3 story).

“We put our lives into this hospital, for this to happen it just so disheartening,” said Shawnda Garrett, an Operating Room Sterile Technician at the hospital. Union officials say the move went into effect last Thursday, but some members didn’t know it until one member’s prescriptions were rejected due to lack of insurance coverage.

“We haven’t asked for anything except what we deserve. Our benefits, our healthcare is so important. My husband is ill here, this is my husband and he’s ill and he has to take a lot of medicines. And we need our healthcare,” added Garrett. Those who have been at the hospital for decades say this move not only affects them but their families. Garrett explains, “There’s single mothers and single fathers and they got children. And this healthcare is so important, and I worked here all these years, and I just can’t believe that somebody would try to take that from us.”

When we asked the hospital to confirm the healthcare cuts, Molly Frick, Director of Human Resources for Cabell Huntington Hospital sent the following statement:

- "We’re disappointed the SEIU District 1199 leadership did not inform its members of the consequences of participating in a strike before holding a vote to authorize the strike and requiring members to participate in one. Union leadership was well aware that a strike would result in the cessation of pay and benefits. Any employee who wishes to return to work will have all benefits restored, including healthcare insurance." - Kathy Cosco, Dir. Strategic Marketing, Mountain Health Network

Union members were not able to confirm when the next round of negotiations will take place with the hospital...

More, *TV News Report, Nov. 11, 2021,
https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/cabell-huntington-hospital-strike-continues-benefits-cut-from-union-members/

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/union-says-replacement-workers-at-cabell-huntington-hospital-causing-problems/article_3080ae4d-6eb4-561a-b011-8a4781aac6c7.html

- 1,000 W.V. Hospital Workers Strike to "Build Back Better," Nov. 5, 2021,
https://democraticunderground.com/111712086

[dutch777]

1. If there was no strike vote, that is on the union but still a dumb PR move by the hospital

You really want disgruntled angry folks turning the valves on your oxygen system and maybe doing a less than thorough job of sanitizing ORs after procedures and at patient room turnover. Lots of stupid going around.

[appalachiablue]

2. Temp workers having fights at the hospital, trash piling

up and patient care neglected as noted in the Herald Dispatch link above. That report on current conditions says much about the hospital corporation's concerns over the welfare of the sick, proper staffing and its permanent employees.

All a distressing situation esp. given the hard work and overtime put in by many dedicated staffers for over a year during the Covid pandemic.