Built with union labor and pension funds
State-of-the-art hospital opens on Southern Oregon coast
By STEFAN OSTRACH
Special Correspondent
COQUILLE, Ore. — A new state-
of-the-art hospital has opened in Coos
County with help from union pension
funds and union labor. Coquille is lo-
cated about 18 miles south of Coos Bay
off the Southern Oregon coast.
“This was a win, win, win, win,
win,” said Pat Smith, president of the
Lane, Coos, Curry, Douglas Counties
Building Trades Council (LCCD-
CBTC). “Union pension funds, local
unions and members, the hospital
board, and the community, all bene-
fited.”
Coquille Valley Hospital’s new facil-
ity was constructed under a union proj-
ect labor agreement with general con-
tractor Neenan Archistructure, which
hired unionized local subcontractors.
The AFL-CIO’s Housing Investment
Trust (HIT) financed $22 million of the
$30 million construction project. Union
pension funds invest in HIT, which in
turn finances union construction proj-
ects. It was the first project funded by
the HIT to utilize Build America Bonds,
introduced in 2009 as part of President
Obama’s economic stimulus program.
Some 225 construction jobs were
created to build the 51,000 square foot
structure. The new hospital has 16 beds
and houses primary medical depart-
ments, including surgery, obstetrics,
therapy, laboratory, a pharmacy, and an
emergency room.
Nurses at the hospital are repre-
sented by the Oregon Nurses Associa-
tion.
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PAGE 12
Stephanie Wiggins, chief investment
officer of the AFL-CIO HIT, said they
were pleased to help bring improved
health care services to Oregon’s South
Coast.
“We were also pleased that through
our all-union construction requirement
we were able to support the creation of
much-needed union construction jobs
during a time of unacceptably high un-
employment.”
Smith, a union representative of
Painters and Allied Trades District
Council 5, explained that a key to get-
ting the project was early involvement.
“The unions got in early,” he said.
“We knew they wanted to build, so we
asked if they had enough funds. They
were looking for funding. HIT offered
attractive interest rates,” he said.
From all accounts, the project went
smoothly.
Hospital CEO Dennis Zielinski said
everyone cooperated well and put the
project first. “The hospital district’s
board was happy to work with the
unions. We wanted to enhance the local
economy and help hard-working peo-
ple who live locally.
“Patients love it,” he added. “It’s
comforting, very healing.”
Amanda Taylor, community rela-
tions manager at Coquille Valley Hos-
pital, described it as “a beautiful build-
ing.”
Wiggins of the AFL-CIO’s HIT de-
clared an interest in other undertakings
in Oregon. “We are always reviewing
proposals for housing and health care
projects and hope there will be more
opportunities for HIT investments in the
Northwest that meet our investment re-
quirements,” she said.
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Standing in front of the new Coquille
Valley Hospital are from left to right:
Joe Bowers, a business representative
of Iron Workers Local 29; Leroy
Marney, president of the Lane, Coos,
Curry, Douglas Counties Building
Trades Council; Amanda Taylor,
marketing/community relations
manager of Coquille Valley Hospital;
Dennis Zielinski, hospital CEO;
Patrick Smith, secretary-treasurer of
LCCDCBTC; and Bob Westerman,
business manager of IBEW Local
932.
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NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
JULY 6, 2012
