Health-care workers end strike in Seattle
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Militant/Chris Hoeppner
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SEATTLEHundreds of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) members on strike against Group Health Cooperative march August 27 to the companys headquarters here. The unionists ended the five-day walkout two days later. Workers said they plan to continue such actions. Members of SEIU Local 1199NW struck Group Health (GH) to protest the companys demand that employees start paying up to 3 percent of their wages for health-care premiums and face higher co-payments for visits to the doctor and for prescription drugs. The 1,700 custodians, medical assistants, and food service and maintenance workers at GH have been working without a contract for a year. We cant back up any more, Amario Austria, a utility custodian at GH for 14 years, told the Militant while picketing at the Capital Hill facility here August 24. Where will it stop? Group Health is not losing money. With four kids, clinic visits going from $15 to $30 and a 3 percent higher premium, this is a wage cut. Were not going to stop until we win, and we know we will win.
CONNIE ALLEN
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