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PeaceHealth workers are struggling to get their own health care

By now, most folks in Whatcom County have probably seen or heard something about hospital workers fighting for fair pay at PeaceHealth St. Joe's. Not just one, but three unions representing PeaceHealth workers are either on strike or threatening to strike. Our community deserves to know why this is happening. PeaceHealth is paying their executives millions while we — the staff who care for patients — are struggling to afford housing and meet our basic needs. Because of uncompetitive pay at PeaceHealth St Joe's, we can't retain and recruit essential hospital staff necessary to provide the care our community deserves. PeaceHealth St Joe's staff are leaving for better paying medical centers in Skagit, Everett and the Seattle area where they can make livable wages. We are often short staffed and the hospital over-relies on traveling temporary staff who don't know our hospital or our patients' needs like we do. This threatens our ability to provide high quality care to our community. PeaceHealth, a nonprofit health care system headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, is making huge profits. Meanwhile they are ignoring their responsibility to pay fair wages for the essential staff that cares for our community. Tragically, some of our staff are living in their cars, and can't afford food and other basic needs. We stock a food pantry at the hospital for co-workers struggling to make ends meet. What's less well known is that because of reductions and changes to our health benefits, many of us can't afford our own medical care. It takes all of us to deliver essential health care and lifesaving emergency services — yes, doctors and nurses, of course — but also nursing assistants, imaging technicians, housekeeping, pharmacy and dietary services and many other often invisible but critical staff who make low wages. 'Put people above profits' — it's not just a catchy phrase. For hospital workers, it's the difference between health and sickness or even death. Our staff puts patient needs first every day. But our own health care providers are struggling to access and afford essential care like mammograms, cancer treatment, pediatric specialists, X-rays and ER visits. PeaceHealth recently switched our health care coverage, significantly increasing our premiums and co-pays while restricting our choice of providers and reducing our coverage. As the sole provider of health insurance for my family, I can barely cover my premiums. Co-pays are so high I had to reduce my health savings account contributions. I dread the financial hits when my kids get the flu or my husband has to go to the ER. Like many of my colleagues who are leaving for better paying jobs, I too will have to look for another job if PeaceHealth doesn't provide the fair wages and affordable health insurance we deserve. So, when you see us outside on the sidewalk with signs instead of inside caring for patients, now you know why. We are standing up for patients and our coworkers by calling on PeaceHealth to step up and address serious workforce problems. When PeaceHealth pays livable wages and provides affordable benefits they will help ensure quality care for all of us. We deserve respect and fair treatment from hospital executives making million-dollar salaries from the services we provide. We aren't asking for luxury. We just want to be able to live where we work, to earn the same wages as our counterparts in other area hospitals, and to get quality health care and a choice in who provides that care. Going on strike is not easy; it's an additional financial hardship. We would not be doing this if we had any other choice. PeaceHealth could have avoided this strike by bargaining in good faith to reach an agreement with us, not dragging their feet and canceling meetings. We hope our community will stand with us, health care workers, in asking PeaceHealth to do better. Join us on the picket lines, consider donating to our hardship fund. Together, we are making our voices heard. Let's hope PeaceHealth corporate executives are listening. Alisha Mendes is a trauma registrar at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, the only Level II trauma center in northern Washington. PeaceHealth employees announce five-day strike after months of bargaining Health benefits, wages remain front of mind for picketing PeaceHealth nurses PeaceHealth employees say changes to hospital's health insurance limiting access to care