St. Mary Technical Workers Vote for USW Representation

Technical workers at St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, California have voted to join the USW.  The results for two units of service, however, remain in question.

The non-professional units voted 177-165 against joining the union with 5 votes contested and 11 votes for joining the Service Employees International Union. Because of the contested votes, a clear majority is not yet certain, and there may be a runoff election.

The voting was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, a federal agency over the course of Thursday and Friday.

This is the second time in the last three years that St. Mary’s technical and service workers — typically employees in laboratory, radiology and custodial departments — have voted on unionizing.

The first time, a substantial majority voted against unionizing.

The dominant issues this time included low pay, reduced hours, rampant favoritism and understaffing.