PORT ANGELES — One of the first challenges Eric Lewis, interim CEO of Olympic Medical Center, must face is negotiating a new wage and benefits package with members of the Service Employees International Union.
The SEIU represents registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, and some service staff that include housekeepers and maintenance people.
Robert Harkins, combinations director at SEIU headquarters in Renton, said Thursday a job action — work stoppage, slowdown or informational picketing — was “possible but certainly not between now and next week.”‘
“Our organizers are out meeting with some of the local leaders,” said Harkins.
Union members have authorized their bargaining team to “take public action if necessary,” according to Mike Wolniewicz, a local union spokesman.
On Wednesday, the union circulated an announcement among employees that it had rejected OMC’s latest offer.
When Lewis presented the hospital’s 2007 budget Wednesday night, he said it included a 4 percent wage hike.
At the hospital board’s Oct. 16 meeting, Wolniewicz said the SEIU and OMC were “still far apart on key wage and benefit issues.”
He also said hospital wanted to cancel free hospital services to union members.