PAGE 8 | February 7 , 2020 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
MASSIVE HOSPITAL STRIKE IN SEATTLE
Striking nurses and frontline caregivers at seven Swedish-Provi-
dence hospitals in the greater Seattle area got a big dose of union
solidarity Jan. 29 when more than 1,000 strikers and their support-
ers marched through downtown Seattle and rallied together.
About 7,800 registered nurses, caregivers and staff — members
of Service Employees International Union 1199NW, conducted a
three-day unfair labor practice strike starting Jan. 28. After almost
10 months of bargaining, they went on strike for safer working
conditions for themselves and their patients, and for better pay. It
was the largest healthcare strike in recent history. When they tried
to return to work on Jan. 31, hundreds of nurses and other care-
givers were locked out. A Swedish-Providence spokesperson told
KOMO News that the medical center had a five-day contract with
replacement workers and was honoring those contracts, with
scabs still working. At press time on Feb. 4, all union members were
back to work, but no new bargaining dates had been set.
Wheeler fails to get labor council endorsement
The Northwest Oregon Labor
Council (NOLC) on Jan. 27
tabled a motion to endorse the
re-election of Portland Mayor
Ted Wheeler after failing to
reach a two-thirds’ majority vote
of delegates.
NOLC’s Executive Board
brought a recommendation to
endorse Wheeler to the monthly
delegates’ meeting on Jan. 27.
The motion failed on a voice
vote, then failed on a standing
vote of approximately 55 dele-
gates. A motion for a roll-call
vote was approved by delegates,
but labor council officials didn’t
have affiliates’ per-capita infor-
mation at the meeting. The num-
ber of votes to which a local
union is entitled on a roll-call
vote is determined by the per
capita tax they pay to the coun-
cil.
A motion to table the endorse-
ment request until the February
24 meeting passed unanimously.
Wheeler is completing his
first term as Portland mayor.
Eleven candidates have filed to
run against him, none of whom
are very well known. A primary
election for the office, which is
non-partisan, will be held on
May 19. If no candidate receives
a simple majority vote, a runoff
election of the top two candi-
dates will be held on Nov. 3.
Several Executive Board en-
dorsement recommendations for
the May primary were approved
by delegates. They include: Lori
Stegmann for re-election as
Multnomah County commis-
sioner; Michael Schmidt for
Multnomah County District At-
torney; Bob Stacey for re-elec-
tion as Metro councilor; Nafisa
Fai for Washington County com-
missioner; Theresa Kohlhoff for
Lake Oswego mayor; Jim
Bernard for re-election as
Clackamas County chair; and
Ken Humberston for re-elec-
tion as Clackamas County com-
missioner.
In addition, delegates en-
dorsed the re-election of three
other county commissioners,
but the endorsements are contin-
gent upon them completing a
questionnaire and meeting with
the Executive Board. The three
are Clackamas County Com-
missioner Martha Schrader,
and Multnomah County Com-
missioners Jessica Vega Peter-
son and Sharon Meieran.
NOLC also will recommend
that the Oregon AFL-CIO en-
dorse Laurie Wimmer for State
Representative in House District
36. Wimmer, a lobbyist for the
Oregon Education Association,
is running for the seat vacated
by Jennifer Williamson, who is
running for secretary of state.