Amid financial troubles at Compass Health, workers picket for better pay

MUKILTEO — At Compass Health, Amanda Steffen helps patients with severe mental illness. But after nine years on the job, she said the nonprofit needs to take care of its workers, too.

On Thursday, Steffen picketed with dozens of clinicians, counselors, nurses, behavioral health care staff and community members at Compass Health’s inpatient clinic in Mukilteo. In total, more than 350 Compass Health workers picketed in Mukilteo and Bellingham this week to pressure the nonprofit to improve wages and benefits.

“When someone’s loved one is in crisis, we’re the ones who take care of them,” said Steffen, a psychiatric technician. “We want our employer to acknowledge that, and that we deserve to be able to take care of ourselves and our families, as well.”

Compass Health provides behavioral health care to low-income families and Medicaid patients at 26 locations across Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, San Juan and Island counties. For over a year, the Everett-based nonprofit and workers represented by Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW have negotiated over a new labor contract, with wages and benefits a major sticking point.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/amid-financial-troubles-at-compass-health-workers-picket-for-better-pay/