Mental health workers plan one-day strike

• Published September 08, 2011 Modified September 07, 2011

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OLYMPIA – Mental health workers at Behavioral Health Resources, Thurston County's primary mental health service provider, notified management they will hold a one-day unfair labor practice strike on Sept. 15.

The 220 workers, members of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, are prepared to strike to protest management’s unfair labor practices and refusal to reach a fair contract despite workers’ agreement to economic savings similar to those requested by management, according to a news release by SEIU.

The mental health workers hope to avert the strike when bargaining resumes Friday.

Behavioral Health Resources is the primary provider of mental health services in Thurston, Mason and Grays Harbor Counties, with facilities dedicated to psychiatric care, crisis triage, addiction recovery and housing for mentally ill and chronically homeless clients.

The current contract expired March 31, 2011.

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