National Nurses United

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 O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7 News Briefs CALIFORNIA C apping a banner year of union organizing, RNs at Barton Memo- rial and Lake Tahoe Surgery Center in South Lake Tahoe voted by 88 percent on Nov. 15 to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United. The tally was 123-17 for CNA, which will represent 200 RNs at the facilities that are part of the Barton Health, a system that covers the scenic Lake Tahoe region. With the Barton vote, 3,000 caregivers in 10 union elections have now voted to have collective representation in 2017, "a record of incredible accomplishment for CNA that will strengthen the ability of RNs to promote safer care conditions for all Californians," said CNA Copresident Malinda Markowitz, RN, who is also an NNU vice-president. Barton RNs cited a desire to work for enhanced patient care staffing and stan- dards for nurses as key reasons for unioniz- ing. "As patient advocates, we have voted for CNA representation in order to improve staffing and enforce state mandated nurse- to-patient ratios," said Barton RN Watson Kambenja. "Now, as we move to bargain a contract with Barton, this will be one of our main priorities." Attracting and retaining experienced nurses is also a goal. "We want to see competi- tive wages and benefits so that we can recruit and retain experienced RNs at Barton and improve the standard of patient care at the hospital," said Paris Kelly, another Barton RN. The next step for nurses is to elect a team of colleagues to represent them in talks with hospital officials on a first collective bargain- ing contract. —Staff report Barton rNs vote to go union MAINE V oicing concerns about safe staffing, retirement security, adequate equipment, and other patient and economic protections, medical laboratory technicians, CT/radiolo- gy technologists, respiratory therapists, and licensed practical nurses at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth voted in early December to join Maine State Nurses Association/ National Nurses Organizing Committee. "We joined MSNA so that we can provide the standard of care that our community deserves," said Ellen Eaton, a medical labo- ratory technician. This was an incredible victory for Maine Coast healthcare workers who faced pressure from an anti- union campaign by the hospital administration, said MSNA. "Current MSNA members at MCMH welcome our tech and LPN colleagues into our union. We know that togeth- er we will have a stronger voice for our patients," said Bruce Becque, an operating room RN and elected chief steward. Techs and LPNs will join the more than 100 nurses, medical technologists, and social workers at MCMH who are currently represented by MSNA/NNOC. "We are looking forward to joining our coworkers who are already represented by MSNA, to stand united for our patients, our families, and our community," said Greg Betz, a nuclear medicine and radiology tech- nologist. The next step for MCMH techs and LPNs is to elect a team of colleagues to represent them in negotiations with the hospital administration on a contract. —Staff report Maine Coast Memorial ancillary staff unionize

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