Citing patient safety concerns, employees at troubled Tacoma psychiatric hospital unionize

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Dec. 17—Since it opened in May 2019, Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital has experienced no shortage of challenges.

Multiple state investigations have revealed an array of health, safety and staffing concerns at the facility, while leadership at the hospital has often been in tumult, most recently with the departure of former CEO Matt Crockett earlier this year.

On Thursday, employees at Wellfound took a step that some hope will improve working conditions and patient care, voting to unionize and join SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

According to a press release from SEIU, the new bargaining unit includes nurses, mental health technicians, unit secretaries and housekeeping staff . In all, 127 employees will be represented, according to an SEIU spokesperson who described the 72 to 4 vote as a "landslide."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/citing-patient-safety-concerns-employees-at-troubled-tacoma-psychiatric-hospital-unionize/ar-AARVgsB

[Aristus]

1. This is wonderful.

So many of my patients come to me for follow-up care after being discharged from Wellfound. It's good to know the staff there will be unionized. Medical care employees being overworked for minimum wage and no benefits have no incentive to provide good care for their patients.