September 29th, 2009
Caregivers at The Sequoias join National Union of Healthcare Workers
Workers reject cynical effort by SEIU officials to deny them the right to join a union
Portola Valley, Calif.—Seventy caregivers at The Sequoias Assisted Living Facility have won their election to form a union with the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), despite an aggressive effort by another union to stop them.
“We organized our union so we could stand up for ourselves, and make sure our residents get the best possible care and that we are treated with the dignity and respect we deserve,” said Jose Bolanos, a cook at the facility. “Now we have a voice to do that. We’re thrilled to be part of a democratic union that is run by healthcare workers like us.”
The scandal-plagued SEIU, widely condemned for its attacks on other unions, had tried to block this election for several months with frivolous charges. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rejected SEIU’s charges and scheduled an election. SEIU failed to win enough support to get a spot on the ballot. The final vote was 40 for NUHW and 20 for “No Union.”
September 29th, 2009
Long Beach Press-Telegram: Los Alamitos Medical Center workers to unionize
By John Canalis, Staff Writer
LOS ALAMITOS—Maintenance workers at Los Alamitos Medical Center have agreed to organize, union representatives said Tuesday.
Workers voted 35-7 in favor of joining the National Union of Healthcare Workers. The workers are employees of a medical center subcontractor, Hospital Housekeeping Systems.
“I’m overjoyed that we finally have a voice to protect our jobs and our families,” said Matilde Garcia, a member of the organizing committee, in a statement. The workers are seeking medical benefits from their employer.
September 29th, 2009
North Bay Business Journal: County OKs contentious contract with SEIU in-home health care workers
By D. Ashley Furness, Business Journal Staff Reporter
SANTA ROSA—The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors renewed a contract impacting thousands of Service Employees International Union in-home care workers this morning, despite claims that organizers inappropriately barred some members from voting for representation.
A group of in-home support services workers staged a protest on administration steps this afternoon opposing the three-year memorandum, which goes into effect Thursday. Several supervisors expressed concerns with the union during a public meeting this morning, but the board unanimously approved the agreement.
According to protesters during the 1:30 p.m. gathering, the union for the first time this year did not allow members to send ballots through the mail and did not provide a copy of the contract. Voting was limited to polling locations at difficult times and places and it was also charged a security guard was hired to “block” workers known to oppose the union, according to protesters.
September 29th, 2009
Workers at Los Alamitos Hospital join National Union of Healthcare Workers
SEIU officials forced to abandon election after failing to win any support
Los Alamitos, Calif.—More than 40 workers at Los Alamitos Hospital have won their election to form a union with the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), despite an aggressive effort by another union to stop them. The workers are employees of Hospital Housekeeping Systems (HHS)—a subcontractor that fails to provide affordable quality health insurance for the workers who spend long hours keeping the hospital clean for others.
“I’m overjoyed that we finally have a voice to protect our jobs and our families,” said Matilde Garcia, an HHS worker and member of the organizing committee. “And I’m proud that we stayed united and chose a union that respects its members and is run by healthcare workers like us.”
September 29th, 2009
Workers at Los Alamitos Hospital join National Union of Healthcare Workers
SEIU officials forced to abandon election after failing to win any support
Hospital Housekeeping Systems (HHS) workers at Los Alamitos Hospital voted 35-to-7 to form a union with NUHW, despite an aggressive effort by another union to stop them.
“I’m overjoyed that we finally have a voice to protect our jobs and our families,” said Matilde Garcia, an HHS worker and member of the organizing committee. “And I’m proud that we stayed united and chose a union that respects its members and is run by healthcare workers like us.”
The scandal-plagued SEIU, widely condemned for its attacks on other unions, had tried to intervene. After the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rejected SEIU’s attempt to block the election by filing frivolous legal charges, SEIU tried to compete in the election—but abandoned their effort last week when they failed to win any support from workers.