Stanford Hospitals Healthcare Workers Vote In Favor Of Union Represantation

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 14 Sep 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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California Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Sally Lieber (D-San Jose) reacted to the vote of healthcare workers at Stanford hospitals in favor of union representation.

In an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, healthcare workers voted by more than a 3-to-1 margin to be represented by SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West (UHW) at Stanford Hospital & Clinics (SHC) and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH). Today's vote garnered an even wider margin of support than when workers first voted for union representation in 1998.

"I am very pleased by the outcome of this vote," said Lieber. "The overwhelming show of support for union representation should give the community confidence that the voice of front-line caregivers will be heard."

Lieber continued, "Clearly this is an important decision for these workers and their families-but also for the community that relies on Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital for care."

SEIU-UHW will be representing approximately 1,450 healthcare workers at the Stanford hospitals.

A month ago, Stanford physically blocked Speaker pro Tem Lieber and union members from entering the hospital to deliver an open letter signed by workers asking Stanford management to remain neutral and open-minded toward employees seeking union representation.

California State Assembly