State inspects Tacoma psychiatric hospital after workers complain of violence, lice
Feb. 22A union representing workers at Tacoma's Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital has filed a complaint with the state over the site's working conditions.
The action comes more than year after employees voted to unionize under the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW banner. Union members have been negotiating for their first contract with the hospital for months. Union representatives say the two sides remain far apart on issues.
The union, in paperwork filed Jan. 24, requested an investigation by state Labor & Industries over a reported rise in workplace violence. According to union media representative Kenia Escobar, employees "report that they went from no violent incidents January 2022 to seven in February 2022, increasing to dozens each month for the remainder of the year."
The incidents include "most recently a serious choking incident," according to the union.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/state-inspects-tacoma-psychiatric-hospital-after-workers-complain-of-violence-lice/ar-AA17Ocp9