Healthcare workers at Providence Milwaukie (Ore.) Hospital voted in favor of unionization on June 14.
The vote covers nearly 200 Providence Milwaukie employees, who will join Service Employees International Union Local 49, according a union news release. They include certified nursing assistants, phlebotomists, dietary aides and environmental service workers.
"Forming our union is about us wanting to have adequate staffing," said Linda Cornelius, a certified nursing assistant. "At the end of the day this is about taking good care of our patients, and we need to be able to advocate for the staffing and resources to be able to care for them."
In addition to staffing, the union also attributed workers' decision to unionize to issues such as medical benefits and raises.
Sherri Kulink, CEO of Providence Milwaukie, told employees the hospital supported their decision, reports The Clackamas Review.
"We will move forward together in working with SEIU. We support our caregivers' decision. The next step in the process is to enter into good-faith bargaining," she said. "It's important that we move forward together, treating one another with respect and embracing our core values. As always, our priority is to work together to serve our mission by providing excellent patient care and by caring for one another."
Providence Milwaukie is part of Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health & Services.
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