While the rights of workers are under attack from the Trump Administration, healthcare workers across California — and as far away as Philadelphia — are fighting back by joining NUHW.
NUHW capped a banner year for new organizing by notching five victories during the holidays, including one win that expanded the union’s presence all the way to Pennsylvania. While the organizing of Rogers Behavioral Health workers in Philadelphia got the most press attention, in recent weeks NUHW also expanded its presence at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister, Providence Health facilities in Humboldt County and the North Bay, and at First Step for Kids, a company that provides services for autistic children.
Overall, more than 1,300 workers have joined NUHW over the past 12 months, including at hospitals in Torrance, Healdsburg, Anaheim and Whittier.
“Healthcare workers want a union that empowers them to provide the best care under the best conditions for the best pay,” NUHW President Emeritus Sal Rosselli said. “Our members are using their collective power every day to improve their lives and the care that patients receive — and that does not go unnoticed by their peers.”
Strength in unity
Just before sitting down at the Thanksgiving table, 21 workers at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital voted to join hundreds of their colleagues as NUHW members. The workers include insurance billers, patient account representatives, emergency technicians, and business analysts who want to join their NUHW colleagues in regaining what the hospital took away from them during a bankruptcy that NUHW ultimately got overturned in court.
Workers in Los Angeles take “First Steps” to improve their workplace
A government shutdown that delayed their union election and a strong anti-union campaign from the employer were no match for the commitment of 49 workers at First Steps for Kids, who won their union election with NUHW on December 12.
The workers include behavioral health technicians providing assessments and services to children diagnosed with autism in the Los Angeles area.
Alejandra Maldonado, one of those workers, said the unionizing effort was driven by a desire to “create the workplace where our voices are heard and real accountability is taking place.”
“The change I would want first is for the workers to have a space where their thoughts and concerns can be shared so we can work as a unit to make a workplace a better place every day,” she said. “And in turn have the ability to provide the quality services we were trained for with all our clients.”
Workers stand union strong despite government shutdown delays
NUHW also continued to expand in the Providence Health system with 26 workers at Providence Napa Homecare winning their union election and two workers at Providence St. Joseph Eureka joining their coworkers as NUHW members.
The Homecare workers include nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and home health aides who serve patients in Napa County, where Providence has turned over operations to Compassus, a private equity-backed firm.
“We see what’s happening with Providence, and we’re ready to team up with our counterparts in the region to win fair salaries and protect the care our community depends on,” said Letitia Camarillo, a homecare nurse. “It’s going to take all of us to win a good contract from Compassus and Providence, but we’re committed to getting it done.”
