Just before Halloween, an administrator at Cottonwood Healthcare Center nursing home in Woodland told NUHW members in an all-staff meeting, “If you don’t like it here, then go apply to Home Depot.”
The outburst was the latest in a series of bullying and disrespectful actions from the administrator at the Aspen Healthcare-owned facility, who had already alienated many workers with such treatment.
Certified Nursing Assistant Roxanne Bowdoin quickly rallied her coworkers to respond appropriately. They decided to use Halloween to send a cheeky message to the administrator.
“All the CNAs got together and wore Home Depot aprons,” Bowdoin said. “He (the administrator) was very angry.”
Organizing and leadership define Bowdoin, a union steward who’s worked at Cottonwood during two stints, the latest since 2021.
Last year, she participated in contract negotiations that brought workers higher wages, shift differentials, and more money for enrolling in the company’s health plan.
Throughout negotiations, Bowdoin encouraged her coworkers to get involved, noting the importance of strength in numbers. “A small voice can make a difference, but if we all get together, it can have a bigger impact.”
She understands that some workers may be afraid to speak up, fearing retaliation from management, but she leads by example as a steward, speaking up for them.
“Sometimes it’s a little stressful,” Bowdoin said of being a steward, especially because her life is very busy, both at work and home.
A busy bee
One enterprise that keeps her busy at home is her business: Vanilla Bean Dreamz Candle Co., which offers natural, nontoxic candles and other products. She launched the company in 2021 after the homemade candles she gave as Christmas gifts were a bit hit among her family and friends.
Encouraged by her husband Michael, she joined Facebook candle groups and watched YouTube videos to learn more about different waxes and how to market her products.
Today, she sells her candles, soaps, scrubs, and sprays online, at fairs, and by special custom order. The holidays are her busiest time, when she and her husband work nonstop to take care of all the orders.
Union proud
Bowdoin says she loves being part of a union, especially the camaraderie and the protections against unfair treatment — something she came to understand all-too-well when her husband was let go from the non-union retail job he had held for 16 years.
“He didn’t have job protections,” Bowdoin said. “In the union, we have job protections. Other places, they can just let you go without a second thought. Unions are good.”
