Nearly 100 workers at San Francisco-based Dignity Health's Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Calif., will unionize, according to a Santa Cruz Sentinel report.
Matt Bartz of NUHW told the Santa Cruz Sentinel the vote was 78-12 in support of unionization. With the vote, the workers, which include physical, occupational and speech therapists, will become members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers.
Occupational therapist Annie Stepka, who is also a leader in the union campaign, in the report cited Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Rehabilitation Services' recent takeover of administrative responsibility for the hospital's outpatient physical, speech and occupational therapy programs as a concern, saying, "People in our group wanted to have a louder voice for our patients and ourselves." Another worker cited "greater protection" with union representation.
In response to the unionization vote, a Dominican Hospital spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review via email: "We respect our staff and their decision to join the National Union of Healthcare Workers. As always, we remain committed to our community and to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health services."