Kaiser Optical and IBHS workers vote to join NUHW
Nearly 1,500 Kaiser mental health professionals and optical workers in Northern California have voted to leave SEIU and join NUHW.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) concluded the ballot count today with a final tally of 603 for NUHW to 196 for SEIU in the Integrated Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) unit, and 154 for NUHW to 142 for SEIU in the optical unit. The Medical Social Work chapter vote tally was 139 for NUHW to 148 for SEIU.
“This is a victory for democracy. Now we will have a real voice regarding issues of patient care, staffing and workload,” said Spencer Gross, a psychologist at Kaiser Pleasanton for 23 years.
“Our hard work paid off!” said Gloria Villasenor an Optician at Kaiser Union City and a Kaiser employee for 15 years. “We took back our union by talking worker to worker and that’s how we’re going to win with NUHW.”