A meeting Tuesday between unionized workers and leadership of a Berkshire County-based mental health organization failed to reach a deal meant to avoid an employee strike.Mediation failed between the Brien Center and SEIU Local 509, which represents 350 of some 450 company employees. Workers are threatening to strike July 6th in opposition to rising health insurance costs and what they call low wages. The Brien Center says it made improved benefit offers including a three-year plan that would see wages increase 3 percent. The union had requested a 5 percent annual increase.
“The union wants a higher annual wage increase than we are able to offer at this point right now,” Brien’s CEO Christine MacBeth said in March.
The Brien Center says it will stay open if a strike happens.