EUGENE, Ore. — PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend is planning to lay off as many as 40 people, according to a spokeswoman for the union representing hospital employees.
Service Employees International Union Local 49 last week received notice PeaceHealth will lay off obstetrics technicians, orderlies, patient team support and patient access representatives, according to union spokeswoman Felisa Hagins. The PeaceHealth notice indicated 40 workers will lose their jobs, Hagins said, but the union so far only has identified between 28 and 30 people who’d be affected.
“They sent us a notice of 40 workers. However, when we look at our list with the job positions and the departments they’re looking at, we get to 28,” Hagins said. “They didn’t send us a list of names, they sent us a list of positions.”
Hagins said the number gap could represent unoccupied hospital positions PeaceHealth plans to eliminate or employee department designations over which the hospital and union disagree.
Hospital spokeswoman Anne Williams on Friday would not confirm the layoffs.
