NLRB sets Kaiser union vote
By Dan Verel, Business Journal Staff Reporter
NORTH BAY, CALIFORNIA – Kaiser Permanente employees throughout the region will be able to officially vote on whether to remain with the Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West, the union that currently is in place, or join its rival offshoot, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, the National Labor Relations Board announced today.
The vote, which will be conducted by mail-in ballots rather than an on-sight election, will take place on Sept. 13 and will last three weeks. All ballots must be counted by October 4, according to the NLRB. The employees will also have the choice of voting for no union at all.
Nearly 43,000 Kaiser workers will take part in the vote, which is believed to be one of the largest votes in state history for a private employer. The two unions have fought bitterly for control, and the Kaiser elections are seen as pivotal to the success of NUHW as a new union, or could solidify SEIU-UHW’s position as the largest healthcare union on the West Coast.
Meanwhile, NUHW said today that 48 former SEIU shop stewards at Kaiser Santa Rosa announced they were resigning their posts with SIEU, which is the current representing union at Kaiser hospitals, to throw their support behind NUHW.
“While we make this decision with a heavy heart, we are confident that the best future for our coworkers is with NUHW and not SEIU-UHW,” the stewards said in a letter dated today. “We are confident that we will emerge from this with a strong, democratic and effective union.”
About 1,250 employees in Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park will participate in the vote; in San Rafael, about 800; in Napa, about 120; in Fairfield, about 113; in Vacaville, about 550; and in Vallejo about 1,900.
Copyright © 1988–2012 North Bay Business Journal
View the policy for linking to website content.
As one of the Santa Rosa stewards who stepped down today, I really feel like NUHW can and will win this election. I am looking forward to being part of a union that is ran from the bottom up instead of from the top down as SEIU has proven to be.
by cory s.
I would like to commend my brothers and sisters of Santa Rosa for such a hard decision. The 18 month unjustified trusteeship of or democratic union is about to end. SEIU-UHW has done more damage and givebacks since trusteeship (18 months) than in the whole history of UHW under the old leadership.
I am voting Red, I am voting for NUHW….. a real union!
Your Brother
Kaiser Roseville
by coolx74
As the contract specialist from Santa Rosa, I couldn’t be prouder of the stewards that have worked so hard to build unity and trust from there co-workers who have stood by there brothers and sisters in there time of need….Our goal was simple, protect our brothers and sisters, educate them, and empower them to stand up and take back there union……Voting NUHW on sept 13th, yes it is friday the 13th i guess it will be a bad luck day for SEIU!
by marcie call
I an proud to stand up and support NUHW. As one of the 48 stewards who stepped down from the Santa Rosa steward council I can tell you In the last 18 months we have been told lie after lie and had our lead steward bullied and harassed at local meetings by SIEU members who DON’T HAVE A CLUE in what they are standing up for. As an informed council we studied the facts, I urge all of you out there to do the same. It is a clear cut choice when you are informed. NUHW ALL THE WAY!!
by celina