Healthcare workers at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center who are members of SEIU Local 49 voted overwhelmingly to approve a settlement with McKenzie-Willamette management on a new Union contract. The nearly 300 workers—including ER Techs, Pharmacy Techs, Certified Nursing Assistants, Respiratory Therapists, Physical Therapists, Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Techs, Phlebotomists, Social Workers and Operating Room Custodians — were united in their commitment to raise staffing and safety standards, improve healthcare for patients and employees, increase wages, and receive pandemic protections.

Springfield, OR – Hospital workers who are members of SEIU 49 gathered, marched, chanted, and spoke out on their first day of a 5-day strike. Hospital caregivers made the difficult decision to strike following a breakdown in discussions with management over patient and worker safety issues. Workers maintain that management remains far from resolving key priorities to settle a fair union contract that would provide market rate wages, healthcare workers can afford to use, and COVID protections like paid time off and recognition bonuses.