Here are a few important updates about the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital organizing. I also added a timeline below explaining how the election has been delayed for the past 194 days.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL ON SEIU-UHW TO AGREE TO FAIR ELECTION, STOP DELAYING
In a September 25 letter, SEIU-UHW stated their refusal to participate in fair election discussions with NUHW and St. Joseph Health System, even though workers and community members have fought for a fair election for years. Now, local and national religious leaders are calling on SEIU to come to the table: “We urge SEIU-UHW to enter into discussions with NUHW and SJHS to set ground rules for the union election at Memorial in a timely manner. Any further delay will only undermine the collective efforts of health care workers and the faith community who supports them.” Local religious leaders signing the letter include Msgr. John Brenkle, Father Angelito Peries, JoAnn Consiglieri, Rev. Chris Bell, Rev. Blythe Sawyer, Stephen Harper, Joe Silva, Deacon John Norris, and Father Ray Decker.
STATE COURT REJECTS LATEST DELAY TACTIC
In recent weeks, SEIU-UHW has refused to discuss a date for the union election under the pretext of a conflict of interest with NUHW’s attorney. On October 23, the Honorable Jon S. Tigar rejected SEIU-UHW’s argument. The only question remaining is whether SEIU-UHW will look for other means to delay the election. There is currently an NLRB hearing on the Memorial election scheduled for November 2, but there is no reason to wait for a hearing if SEIU-UHW agrees to the terms for election already agreed to by NUHW and SJHS.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN INFORMATIONAL EVENT ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
In addition to updates about the Santa Rosa Memorial campaign, this event will touch on broader issues affecting the future of the labor movement in Sonoma County and beyond. The event will be chaired by Norman Solomon and speakers will include Sal Rosselli of NUHW, local union activist Marie White, and Mito Gonzales of Santa Rosa Memorial. The event is Friday, November 6, 7pm-9pm, and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall, 3473 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa. For more info call (707) 962-9213.
TIMELINE: UNION ELECTION HELD HOSTAGE FOR 194 DAYS SINCE WORKERS FILED FOR THEIR ELECTION
January 27, 2009
SEIU places SEIU-UHW in trusteeship and pulls the plug on the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital campaign.
February to March, 2009
After SEIU-UHW shuts down their campaign website and office and fails to return calls, SRMH workers re-group and resume organizing with National Union of Healthcare Workers.
April 13, 2009
SRMH workers file their petition – signed by a majority – for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board. Typically, an election would be scheduled within 6 weeks of filing.
April to August, 2009
SEIU-UHW uses a legal maneuver to get the NLRB to block the election at SRMH.
September 1, 2009
The NLRB sets aside SEIU-UHW’s blocking charge and allows the union election at SRMH to proceed. SRMH management agrees to meet to discuss fair election ground rules.
September 16, 2009
After an absence of more than 7 months, SEIU-UHW files to intervene in the election. SRMH management postpones fair election discussions pending participation from SEIU-UHW.
September 23, 2009
SEIU-UHW refuses to proceed with a scheduled NLRB hearing citing an alleged conflict of interest with NUHW’s attorney. The NLRB postpones the hearing until October 19 (later delayed even further until November 2) thus delaying the election for at least several more weeks.
September 28, 2009
In a letter from Eliseo Medina, SEIU-UHW formally rejects any participation in fair election discussions, thus scuttling the process.
September 29, 2009
The North Bay Labor Council writes to the SEIU-UHW trustees asking them to respect the workers’ choice of NUHW and stop interfering in the SRMH union election.
October 7, 2009
A delegation of workers delivers a letter signed by 75 co-workers to SEIU officials in Santa Rosa telling them that they have no support and that they should stop the delays and pull out of the election.
October 10, 2009
Having failed in all their attempts to get support from workers, SEIU-UHW starts mailing a series of anti-NUHW leaflets to workers, running exactly the kind of anti-union campaign that workers have spent years trying to prevent management from running.
RELIGIOUS LEADERS CALL ON SEIU-UHW TO AGREE TO FAIR ELECTION, STOP DELAYING
In a September 25 letter, SEIU-UHW stated their refusal to participate in fair election discussions with NUHW and St. Joseph Health System, even though workers and community members have fought for a fair election for years. Now, local and national religious leaders are calling on SEIU to come to the table: “We urge SEIU-UHW to enter into discussions with NUHW and SJHS to set ground rules for the union election at Memorial in a timely manner. Any further delay will only undermine the collective efforts of health care workers and the faith community who supports them.” Local religious leaders signing the letter include Msgr. John Brenkle, Father Angelito Peries, JoAnn Consiglieri, Rev. Chris Bell, Rev. Blythe Sawyer, Stephen Harper, Joe Silva, Deacon John Norris, and Father Ray Decker.
STATE COURT REJECTS LATEST DELAY TACTIC
In recent weeks, SEIU-UHW has refused to discuss a date for the union election under the pretext of a conflict of interest with NUHW’s attorney. On October 23, the Honorable Jon S. Tigar rejected SEIU-UHW’s argument. The only question remaining is whether SEIU-UHW will look for other means to delay the election. There is currently an NLRB hearing on the Memorial election scheduled for November 2, but there is no reason to wait for a hearing if SEIU-UHW agrees to the terms for election already agreed to by NUHW and SJHS.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN INFORMATIONAL EVENT ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
In addition to updates about the Santa Rosa Memorial campaign, this event will touch on broader issues affecting the future of the labor movement in Sonoma County and beyond. The event will be chaired by Norman Solomon and speakers will include Sal Rosselli of NUHW, local union activist Marie White, and Mito Gonzales of Santa Rosa Memorial. The event is Friday, November 6, 7pm-9pm, and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall, 3473 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa. For more info call (707) 962-9213.
TIMELINE: UNION ELECTION HELD HOSTAGE FOR 194 DAYS SINCE WORKERS FILED FOR THEIR ELECTION
January 27, 2009
SEIU places SEIU-UHW in trusteeship and pulls the plug on the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital campaign.
February to March, 2009
After SEIU-UHW shuts down their campaign website and office and fails to return calls, SRMH workers re-group and resume organizing with National Union of Healthcare Workers.
April 13, 2009
SRMH workers file their petition – signed by a majority – for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board. Typically, an election would be scheduled within 6 weeks of filing.
April to August, 2009
SEIU-UHW uses a legal maneuver to get the NLRB to block the election at SRMH.
September 1, 2009
The NLRB sets aside SEIU-UHW’s blocking charge and allows the union election at SRMH to proceed. SRMH management agrees to meet to discuss fair election ground rules.
September 16, 2009
After an absence of more than 7 months, SEIU-UHW files to intervene in the election. SRMH management postpones fair election discussions pending participation from SEIU-UHW.
September 23, 2009
SEIU-UHW refuses to proceed with a scheduled NLRB hearing citing an alleged conflict of interest with NUHW’s attorney. The NLRB postpones the hearing until October 19 (later delayed even further until November 2) thus delaying the election for at least several more weeks.
September 28, 2009
In a letter from Eliseo Medina, SEIU-UHW formally rejects any participation in fair election discussions, thus scuttling the process.
September 29, 2009
The North Bay Labor Council writes to the SEIU-UHW trustees asking them to respect the workers’ choice of NUHW and stop interfering in the SRMH union election.
October 7, 2009
A delegation of workers delivers a letter signed by 75 co-workers to SEIU officials in Santa Rosa telling them that they have no support and that they should stop the delays and pull out of the election.
October 10, 2009
Having failed in all their attempts to get support from workers, SEIU-UHW starts mailing a series of anti-NUHW leaflets to workers, running exactly the kind of anti-union campaign that workers have spent years trying to prevent management from running.
Thanks for posting this timeline Keyser. It really demonstrates just how the Zombie-UHW abandoned us and now wants in on this election just so they can try and keep NUHW from gaining another victory. After we've worked for nearly six years to bring this campaign to a vote they would rather see the workers at Memorial have no union at all rather than let them choose to join NUHW. The latest mailer they sent out yesterday was a joke. The only employee they could find willing to put their picture on it was a Kaiser worker from San Rafael! Guess they couldn't even find a Kaiser Santa Rosa worker willing to help them attempt to Lie, cheat and ruin this election! Pathetic!!
ReplyDelete