releases: http://defazio.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/rep-defazio-joins-hospital-workers-on-picket-line-in-springfield
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://defazio.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/rep-defazio-joins-hospital-workers-on-picket-line-in-springfield | Rep. DeFazio Joins Hospital Workers on Picket Line in Springfield | 2014-10-29 | 2014 | 2014-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Peter DeFazio | D000191 | defazio.house.gov | legacy | Springfield, OR- Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today joined approximately 75 McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center workers on the picket line during day two of a 72-hour strike. Rep. DeFazio strongly supports the workers’ call for a fair contract with the for-profit hospital. The contract dispute arose after McKenzie-Willamette management proposed increasing employee healthcare costs even as the hospital posted a 31 percent increase in profits between 2012 and 2013. At the same time, McKenzie-Willamette ranked second to last for spending on care for the neediest Oregonians. McKenzie-Willamette is owned by Tennesse-based Community Health Systems, which owns 206 hospitals across 29 states and reported nearly $13 billion in net revenues in 2013. “I came out to the picket line today because our country needs more leaders who go to bat for the average American worker,” DeFazio said. “Right here, in my hometown of Springfield, we have a for-profit medical company that is experiencing significant growth and paying its CEO $8.6 million a year. Yet the corporation wants to force workers making between 11 and 15 dollars an hour to dig deeper into their own pockets to pay more for healthcare coverage. I met a woman today who has worked here seven years, but at $12 an hour, she said it will be a huge hardship to pay increased healthcare costs for her and her children. This is hugely symbolic of what’s wrong with corporate America today. I’m outraged. Anyone who believes in the need for a thriving middle class in America should be outraged.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |