Nurses and medical staff at Kodiak’s only hospital were prepared to strike this Friday, but plans have quickly changed.
The union, representing about 200 employees at the Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, had in early February unanimously voted to strike indefinitely to force contract terms that relate to sick leave benefits.
The vote came after months of failed talks and an unfair labor practices complaint filed by the Alaska Medical Employees Association against Providence St. Joseph Health, which last week called the strike notice “irresponsible,” in light of the COVID-19 virus.
But late Monday, the union called off the strike, having reached tentative contract terms with Providence that guarantee certain sick leave and time off benefits for health workers. The two sides reached a tentative one-year contract agreement with management, according to the union that represents them.
Nice to see. Let’s revisit this sort of thing 6 Months from now. Now is the time to link arms and fight this thing. We can sort the other stuff out later.
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