NUHW continued its string of organizing victories in March, with workers at the Merced County Jail, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, and Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Santa Cruz joining their colleagues as union members.
The wins include 56 caregivers employed by private equity firm Wellpath at the Merced County Jail, who voted overwhelmingly to join their counterparts in several other county jails as NUHW members.
With this victory, NUHW now represents Wellpath-employed healthcare workers at five California county jails, including: Alameda, Lake, Sonoma, and Stanislaus, where they have won higher wages, better benefits, and enhanced workplace protections while also protecting and improving patient care.
The workers, which include licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, and mental health providers, are seeking better wages and a bigger say in their work.
“For too long, many of us felt mistreated and unheard, with no real way to speak up about the issues affecting our workplace,” said Allison Moorehead, a licensed vocational nurse. “That’s why I chose to organize with NUHW. We deserve a real voice on the job and a seat at the table when decisions are made.
At Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, more workers are joining NUHW as bargaining continues toward a new contract. In March, 15 security guards and two lab clerks joined the union. They followed in the footsteps of emergency room technicians, case management assistants, and office clerks who were added to the ranks of NUHW members at the Hollister hospital late last year.
The new workers will be part of NUHW’s existing 356-member bargaining unit that is focused on regaining the benefits and protections the hospital took away when it unlawfully declared bankruptcy.
At Sutter’s Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Santa Cruz, three physical therapy assistants are joining NUHW, which already represents more than 20 other therapists providing homecare to patients across Santa Cruz County.
