November 5th, 2010
Monterey County Herald: New union to push back against Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital job cuts
By Jim Johnson
A newly certified workers union at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital is promising to fight hospital administrators’ plans to eliminate scores of positions. A top hospital official indicated the job cuts could be open to negotiation.
Leighton Woodhouse, spokesman for the National Union of Healthcare Workers, said the union will seek to revisit the hospital’s effort to cut positions during negotiations now that the union is finally the official collective bargaining representative.
The union was officially certified when the state Public Employment Relations Board dismissed the last objections filed by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers last week, five months after Salinas Valley Memorial workers voted to join NUHW.
The new union represents more than 800 licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, clerical workers and others at the hospital.
November 2nd, 2010
Monterey County Weekly: Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital workers union election is finally settled. NUHW wins.
By Robin Urevich
The National Union of Health care Workers has pledged to push back against staff reductions at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.
In mid-October, the union led workers in a lively informational picket line to protest a round of buy-outs that had been offered to nurse’s aides, LVNs and other support staff. Hospital officials warned that if workers didn’t take voluntary severance packages, lay-offs could be in the offing. Now, the union can take its battle to the bargaining table.
In May 2010, SVMH workers voted overwhelmingly for NUHW representation, but their old union, the Service Employees International, which was voted out, filed objections to the conduct of the election, and official certification of the NUHW was delayed.
But on Oct. 25, the state Public Employee Relations Board, which referees such disputes, cleared those objections and granted collective bargaining rights to the NUHW.
November 1st, 2010
860 Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital caregivers win certification with NUHW
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Workers celebrate becoming the newest members of NUHW Last Thursday, 860 workers at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital (SVMH) celebrated as the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) fully recognized their membership in the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). Since the workers chose to join NUHW by a two-to-one margin this May, […]
October 21st, 2010
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital workers picket for safe staffing levels
More than a hundred healthcare workers marched outside Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital today to draw attention to the potential impact of more than 100 layoffs and employee buyouts ordered by hospital management. Employees decided to hold the picket by a 97% vote last week. “Cutting jobs means cutting healthcare for our community,” said Nina Perez, […]
October 21st, 2010
Memorial Hospital workers picket for safe staffing levels
More than 100 protest against layoffs and buyouts that reduce the quality of care
Salinas, Calif.—More than a hundred healthcare workers marched outside Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital today to draw attention to the potential impact of more than 100 layoffs and employee buyouts ordered by hospital management. Employees decided to hold the picket by a 97% vote last week.
“Cutting jobs means cutting healthcare for our community,” said Nina Perez, an OB tech in the Labor and Delivery department for 11 years. “When they eliminate this many staff, patients and their families are going to see the difference. Caregivers are already stretched too thin.”