Author Archive

North Bay Business Journal: Union wins right to represent hospital workers

By Dan Verel

The National Labor Relations Board has sided with the National Union of Healthcare Workers in a long-standing labor dispute with Memorial Hospital.

In a 32-page decision, Administrative Law Judge William Schmidt, writing in Washington, D.C., for the San Francisco branch of the federal labor agency, ruled that the NUHW is “hereby certified as the exclusive collective bargaining representative” of the Santa Rosa hospital, overruling the medical center’s challenge to elections held in December.

In those elections, NUHW soundly defeated its rival and the union from which it broke away from, the Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West, and narrowly beat those who preferred no union, as the representative body for hospital employees. The final December tally was 283 votes for NUHW, 263 votes for no union and 13 votes for SEIU.

Kaiser IBHS workers move to join NUHW!

A majority of 1,300 mental health professionals at Kaiser have signed a petition to change their union from SEIU to the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), requesting the first Northern California election in a growing effort by Kaiser’s 47,000 SEIU members statewide to take back their union.

Majority of 1,300 Kaiser mental health professionals petition to join new union

After Southern Calif. professionals joined NUHW in three landslide elections, Northern Calif. pros begin the switch from SEIU

Oakland, Calif.—A majority of 1,300 mental health professionals at Kaiser have signed a petition to change their union from SEIU to the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), requesting the first Northern California election in a growing effort by Kaiser’s 47,000 SEIU members statewide to take back their union.

“We’re thrilled for the chance to join the rest of Kaiser’s mental health professionals in a member-run union that will help us improve care for our patients and clients,” said Emily Ryan, a psychiatric social worker at Kaiser Sacramento. “And we’re proud to be the first of the 47,000 Kaiser workers who will petition this month to join NUHW.”

Beyond Chron: NUHW Defeats SEIU, Management 393-122 in USC Hospital Election

By Randy Shaw

NUHW has overcome a concerted “no-union” campaign from SEIU and hospital management to win bargaining rights for over 600 USC University Hospital workers. NUHW’s 393-122 victory over “no union” followed SEIU’s removal of its name from the ballot last week, claiming that it could not overcome management intimidation of its own members. SEIU had previously spent months in an aggressive anti-NUHW campaign that many believed was designed to bolster management’s own anti-union efforts. NUHW’s victory is sweet vindication for NUHW worker leaders and organizers arrested and disciplined by management in recent weeks, and should have workers asking whether they want a union that runs from management intimidation or stays and fights.

Video: More than 600 caregivers join NUHW at USC University Hospital

More than 600 USC University Hospital workers joined the National Union of Healthcare Workers in a two-day election that capped a months-long battle between caregivers, hospital management, and the SEIU. Beyond Chron, May 28, 2010: NUHW’s 393-122 victory over “no union” followed SEIU’s removal of its name from the ballot last week, claiming that it […]