Unions were extremely successful in organizing healthcare workers in 2013, as 71 percent of representation elections with healthcare workers resulted in union recognition — above the 65 percent success rate for nonhealthcare industries, according to a report from IRI Consultants and the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration.
One of the most successful healthcare unions is National Nurses United, which won 100 percent of its elections last year. According to the report, this suggests NNU is not likely to file a petition for an election that it doesn't believe it will win. The union also furthers its growth by acquiring other nurse unions and has an active legislative agenda at the national and state level.
The Service Employees International Union was the most active union in the healthcare industry, as it was involved in more elections than any other union and accounted for 43 percent of all representation elections in healthcare last year. The union won 68 percent of those elections.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees was the second most active healthcare union and won 60 percent of its representation elections.
Finally, though the United Food and Commercial Workers union is not traditionally associated with healthcare, it succeeded in 69 percent of its healthcare representation elections last year.
"Labor unions continue to increase their influence in the healthcare industry," James Trivisonno, president of IRI Consultants, wrote in the report. "Preparation is key to mitigating union influence, including a comprehensive approach involving education and training, vulnerability assessments, communications, employee engagement and leadership development."
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