December 2nd, 2009
Los Angeles Daily News: Healthcare workers could join breakaway union
More than 2,300 Kaiser Permanente employees represented by Service Employees International Union in Southern California could vote in the coming weeks on a proposal to leave the union to join the breakaway National Union of Healthcare Workers.
The National Labor Relations Board ruled Tuesday that an election should be scheduled in 42 days, according to NUHW spokeswoman Sadie Crabtree.
December 2nd, 2009
San Francisco Business Times: NLRB decision could open door to new health care union
The National Labor Relations Board has rejected challenges to a proposed election that would let more than than 2,300 health care workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities in Southern California vote to either stay with the Service Employees International Union and or join a new rival.
Workers at dozens of Kaiser facilities will have the chance within 42 days to vote on which union they want to represent them in bargaining, the Oakland-based National Union of Healthcare Workers said Wednesday.
Kaiser is also based in Oakland.
According to NUHW, a majority of the Kaiser workers filed petitions to join NUHW in February, but SEIU delayed the election by filing “frivolous charges,” which were rejected Tuesday by an NLRB regional board in Southern California.
December 2nd, 2009
Beyond Chron: SEIU Joins Management in Blocking Union Drive
by Randy Shaw
SEIU, whose mission includes the unionization of hospital workers, is now waging a full-scale campaign to prevent over 600 workers at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital from joining NUHW, a rival union. SEIU’s effort follows its abandonment of its own union organizing drive at the facility, and its success at convincing workers to vote for “no union” in the December 17 election would ensure these workers remain non-union for years. In response to SEIU’s actions, longtime SEIU supporter Monsignor John Brenkle recently condemned what he described as SEIU’s “anti-union campaign,” and revealed that SEIU had rejected efforts by former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and himself to negotiate ground rules that would avoid negative campaigning and ensure a fair election.
December 2nd, 2009
Labor board OKs 2,300 Kaiser professionals to quit SEIU and join National Union of Healthcare Workers
Ruling by federal government ends nine months of obstruction by SEIU officials
LOS ANGELES—More than 2,300 healthcare professionals at dozens of Kaiser Permanente facilities across Southern California will soon vote on leaving the SEIU to join the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW).
A majority of the workers filed petitions to join NUHW in February, but SEIU delayed the election by filing frivolous charges which were rejected yesterday afternoon in a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board. The election should be scheduled within 42 days.
“We’re joining NUHW because we want democracy and integrity in our union again,” said Jim Clifford, MS, a therapist at Kaiser San Diego.
“SEIU has made deals behind our backs to cut our pension and lay off 1,800 of our co-workers,” he said. “We’ve been waiting months for the chance to join NUHW and put members in charge of our union again.”
December 2nd, 2009
Labor board OKs election for 2,300 Kaiser professionals to join NUHW
Jim Clifford, MS, Therapist at Kaiser San Diego Psychiatry
“We’re joining NUHW because we want democracy and integrity in our union again. SEIU has made deals behind our backs to cut our pension and lay off 1,800 of our co-workers. Now’s our chance to put members back in charge of our union.”
More than 2,300 healthcare professionals at dozens of Kaiser Permanente facilities across Southern California will soon vote to leave SEIU and join NUHW.
A majority of the workers filed petitions to join NUHW in February, but SEIU delayed the election by filing frivolous charges which were rejected yesterday afternoon in a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board. The election should be scheduled within 42 days.