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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

SEIU Seeks to Expand Ranks Among Staff at Los Robles

The union that threatened to strike at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in an intense labor dispute this fall could be expanding its ranks. Representatives from SEIU United Healthcare Workers West are holding meetings at the Thousand Oaks facility with non-management staff including social workers, dieticians, clinical lab scientists, pharmacists and occupational, speech and physical therapists. The expansion, if approved this spring, could add about 120 workers to the union. SEIU United Healthcare Workers West already represents 500 vocational nurses, nursing assistants and therapists at the 265-bed facility. An affiliated union, SEIU 121 RN, represents about 500 nurses. The unionizing efforts comes two months after the union and Tennessee-based Healthcare Corporation of America, which owns Los Robles, West Hills Hospital and Medical Center and a facility in Riverside, resolved a dispute over the conditions of a contract that expired June 30. That issue was worked out after the threat of a one-day strike, but negotiations between the two sides raised questions about what workers were eligible to join the union under the terms of the “other professionals” category of the National Labor Relations Board. When hospital workers initially organized about four years ago, there was not enough interest by that group, said Los Robles CEO Jim Sherman. It was unclear whether some professions such as dieticians were eligible to join. As a result, hospital administrators agreed that the question should be put to the employees, Sherman said. He said the friendly arrangement made sense in light of the amicable negotiations. “It just seemed easier. We have a framework developed,” he said. “If the employees have an interest in doing it, we give them the opportunity.” Sherman said informal meetings have been held throughout the fall. Employees will eventually vote through a secret ballot election this spring. If the majority is in favor of union representation, the hospital will negotiate a contract, Sherman said. If the employees do not vote in favor, the union has agreed not to hold another organizing campaign until March 2010. SEIU spokeswoman Thea Lavin said the union could not discuss the ongoing negotiations or unionizing efforts. But if passed, the additional union members would increase SEIU’s toehold on the Los Angeles labor scene. The union already represents 3,000 hospital employees and 6,000 security guards in Southern California. Last month, the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Los Angeles agreed to allow moves by private security to unionize, clearing the way for as many as 5,000 guards to join the SEIU.

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