Workers at McKenzie-Willamette set to strike Tuesday

Workers at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center represented by SEIU 49 are set to strike Tuesday at 6 AM. Workers’ voted overwhelmingly, at 99%, to authorize an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike after the company announced earlier this year that it plans to outsource linen, housekeeping, and dietary jobs.

The union says that nearly 100 workers are at risk of having their jobs outsourced. In addition the workers are seeking the company to recognize their status as frontline workers who are putting their safety at risk by granting them adequate wages.

The strike is currently set to go from Tuesday at 6 AM to 7 AM Thursday at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield. The union will also hold rallies throughout Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM, and 7:00 PM. Supporters can sign-up for picket shifts here.

EWEB GM tries to sell city on NW Natural

At last Monday’s joint meeting of the Eugene city council and EWEB board of commissioners, EWEB’s General Manager Frank Lawson made as surprise push for NW Natural. Lawson brought up a proposal of dual fuel heat pumps, mix of gas and electric, at the end of his presentation to the council and board of commissioners, that would see NW Natural and EWEB partnering together.

Councilor Syrett said this proposal caught her by surprise and was not brought up in any of her recent briefings with the general manager. To her “it [felt] like a big sales pitch to assist Northwest Natural in avoiding action from City Council to start limiting their expansion.”

Council approves three more Safe Sleep sites

Eugene City Council approved three new Safe Sleep sites at it’s meeting last Wednesday. One at 2243 Roosevelt Blvd that will be owned and operated by SquareOne Villages, a second one at 410 Garfield St. that the city is still looking to lease and have St. Vincent DePaul operate, and the third site is owned by Rexius at Dani St. and will be operated by Everyone Village. Additionally the city said it expects the 2nd and Garfield car camping site, that the council approved previously, to become operational this week.

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