8 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6
CALIFORNIA
B
y sweeping 90 percent margins, a
total of some 300 registered nurs-
es and hospital workers at Kindred
Hospital-Baldwin Park voted in
early November to join the California Nurs-
es Association (CNA) and the CNA-affiliated
Caregivers and Healthcare Employees
Union (CHEU), respectively. The two votes
at the Los Angeles area hospital were part of
a hospital wide unionization campaign.
CNA will represent some 100 RNs at the
long-term care facility. CHEU will represent
some 200 licensed vocational nurses, moni-
tor techs/unit secretaries, certified nursing
assistants, respiratory therapists, environ-
mental service workers, and other technical
and service workers.
"We are thrilled to have won our election
by a super majority and we look forward to
bargaining our first contract,"
said Alice Sebastian, a medical-
surgical RN at Kindred. "Bald-
win Park employees know we
are stronger when we all stand
together to improve working
conditions!"
Key issues for the RNs in
voting for unionization included
a desire to improve patient care
staffing and wages. They were
also inspired by RNs at another
Kindred facility, Westminster, in
Orange County who are currently enjoying
their first CNA collective bargaining
contract, and spoke about the benefits of
becoming CNA members.
Incoming CHEU members voted for
unionization for many of the same reasons
that inspired the RNs to vote for CNA,
including improving wages, reducing exces-
sive work assignments, and improving
respect in the work place.
"We are excited to have won our election
with CHEU and are looking forward to
working together with Kindred Baldwin
Park RNs to negotiate contracts that
improve working conditions for all employ-
ees," said Paolo Tolentino, a licensed voca-
tional nurse at Kindred Baldwin Park.
—Staff report
News BRieFs
Kindred Baldwin Park RNs and
healthcare workers unionize
Some 300 employees organize hospital wide
