HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Representatives with Cabell Huntington Hospital and SEIU District 1199 head back to court Tuesday over a temporary restraining order in connection with the ongoing maintenance and service worker strike.
Nearly 900 hospital employees have been fighting for a fair contract since Nov. 3. The union is seeking wage increases, better staffing conditions and continued health insurance coverage.
Both sides will appear in Cabell County Circuit Court at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Judge Alfred Ferguson issued the TRO earlier this month, citing the strike impedes the ability to provide an appropriate environment to patients and families. A decision will be made whether the order will stay or if any changes need to be made.
“We think that the judge is going to see that we’ve followed the letter of the law. We’re doing everything we’re supposed to be doing that we are entitled to do with concerted activity,” SEIU District 1199 Regional Director Sherri McKinney told MetroNews on Monday.
McKinney said the order has not changed anything because their members have not been disruptive.
“It’s been a very mild picket line. We’ve never had any issues with the police, the law or anything that we’re doing whatsoever, so we think it’s going to be business as usual,” she said.
The order limits the number of workers on the picket line to eight during the day and four people overnight. Quiet hours on the picket line are from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Bull horns and air horns are not be allowed.
“In essence, nothing changed for us after the temporary restraining order. We moved about 15 feet back from the ER entrance, which we were totally okay with,” McKinney said.
Hospital staff said they’re working to making sure steps are taken for visitors, staff and vendors to feel comfortable on the campus.
“The hospital’s main goals for seeking the restraining order – noise abatement, maintaining ease of access and ensuring safe conduct on the picket line – remain the same. The temporary restraining order currently in place addresses those concerns and it is our hope to continue those protections to preserve the healing environment patients and their families expect,” said Molly Frick, the hospital’s director of human resources, in a Monday statement to MetroNews.
A federal mediator met with both parties last week. The hospital made a counter offer, but union leaders rejected it. Since then, negotiations have been on hold.
McKinney said it’s unknown when negotiations will resume, but that they’ll be ready.
“It’ll be up to the mediators to check with the parties to see if and when they’re ready to get back to the table,” she said.
The hospital has also said it continues to remain open to working with the union to reach a deal.
Health insurance was cut off by the hospital this month, leaving workers without coverage during the pandemic.