PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center workers in a labor dispute with management will not be allowed to strike until a court rules on whether such action is allowed under state law, a Kitsap County judge ruled Friday.
Superior Court Judge Karlynn Haberly approved a preliminary injunction against members of Service Employees Union Healthcare 1199NW filed by OMC attorney David Smith last month.
The move extends a restraining order against the union previously agreed to by both parties until Nov. 4.
That’s when the Kitsap County Superior Court will rule on whether the union has the right to strike.
OMC marketing manager Jeff Anderson said in an email the union agreed to the preliminary injunction before Friday’s hearing.
A union representative could not be immediately reached for comment.
Clallam County judges have recused themselves.
The union represents 369 nurses, dietary workers and service workers at the hospital.
It threatened to strike Aug. 11 over concerns with health insurance costs and staffing levels after mediated contract talks came to a stalemate.
OMC is asking its employees and managers to pay for 25 percent of their children’s health care insurance, which is now free, and to pay 50 percent for a spouse, an amount that now is about 40 percent.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
