Free & Fair elections = quality care and quality jobs
Hospital workers across Boston are calling for free and fair union elections so they can have a voice in protecting patient care and improving jobs for working families. Read more!
Workers at Caritas Carney Hospital in Boston Vote
to Join 1199SEIU
As citywide campaign by hospital workers to unite in 1199SEIU gains momentum, workers choose united voice to ensure Carney is best place to work and receive care
Following a two-day, hospital-wide vote, nearly 500 caregivers at Caritas Carney Hospital in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston voted overwhelmingly (79% YES) to join 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest labor union of healthcare workers in Massachusetts. Carney Hospital is part of Caritas Christi Health Care, the largest community based hospital system in the state.
Workers at the Dorchester facility who have now joined 1199SEIU include respiratory therapists, radiology techs, licensed practical nurses, nurse assistants, pharmacy techs, clerical workers, housekeepers, dietary workers and many others. Just two months ago, more than 800 at Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston also voted to join 1199SEIU.
“This has been a long time coming, and we are thrilled,” said Carney Hospital Nuclear Medicine Technician Kathy Riley. “We are devoted to our patients and this community, and we’re excited about working together to make the quality of care at our hospital the best that it can be. We’re proud to continue the momentum of hospital workers across Boston in joining 1199SEIU. Free and fair union elections for all.”
The successful vote was hailed by community leaders as a win not just for caregivers, but also for patients and the community.
“Carney is so much more than just a community hospital - it’s a real part of the community,” said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino in a statement. “Generations of Dorchester families have turned to Carney for quality care, good jobs and a ray of hope. Joining 1199SEIU means Carney workers will protect what they’ve built - and improve things for the future. Why can’t every hospital in the city of Boston have 1199?”
“When workers have a free choice about uniting together, it not only allows health care workers to improve conditions for their patients and themselves, but also helps to preserve the long-term sustainability of their hospital,” said 1199SEIU President George Gresham. “And a strong Carney Hospital will help Dorchester continue to be one of the strongest and most vibrant communities in Boston. We are so proud to welcome the workers of Carney to 1199SEIU.”
In the past year, thousands of healthcare workers in Boston have voted to join 1199SEIU for a voice for job security, a better future for their families, and to provide the best patient care. During these difficult economic times, caregivers have found that having a united voice has also been effective in protecting the economic health of their hospitals and their communities. As a union of healthcare workers, 1199SEIU has developed a legacy of advocacy for public investment in quality healthcare services, training, and access, and has defended many health facilities against funding cuts.
“Carney Hospital is part of the heart and soul of the Dorchester community - and the workers at Carney are devoted to providing the highest quality of care possible for the citizens of Boston,” said State Representative Martin J. Walsh. “Caregivers at Carney will now be able to use the strength of their voices to advocate for the best care for their patients and funding for their hospital.”
In October of 2007, non-union hospital workers across Boston announced their appeal to hospital CEOs to allow free and fair voting conditions when deciding whether to join a union. Caritas Christi Health Care distinguished itself as the first major health system to forge such an agreement with 1199SEIU in January 2009.
“Caregivers at Carney Hospital do some of the most important work in our community - by caring for the sick and providing hope,” said Boston City Councilor Maureen Feeney. “And by joining 1199SEIU through a free and fair union election, we know that workers will have a real voice in improving the quality of care for their patients and keeping the hospital strong. Every Boston hospital worker deserves this fair process.”
At every hospital in Boston, workers are organizing to unite in 1199SEIU. Workers who have organized at St. Elizabeth’s and Carney facilities have pledged their support to assist colleagues at other Boston facilities do the same.
More than 800 Workers at Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Make History with Vote to join 1199SEIU
In one of the largest union votes at a Boston area hospital in decades,workers unite for the best patient care, for their families and each other.
Healthcare workers at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, the largest medical center in theCaritas Christi Health Care chain, today announced they have overwhelminglyvoted to join 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The vote means more than 800 St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center workers will officially join 1199SEIU, just weeks after the announcement of an historic accord between 1199SEIU, the Area Trades Council, and Caritas Christi Health Care ensuring free and fair voting conditions for employees while they are deciding whether to join a union. Caritas Christi is the largest community-based health system in Massachusetts. 1199SEIU is the largest union of healthcare workers in Massachusetts. Workers who participated in the vote included respiratory therapists, surgical techs, x-ray techs, clerical workers, nursing assistants, housekeepers, dietary workers and many others. A group of skilled maintenance workers also voted to join the Area Trade Council. “We are overjoyed and thrilled. People were crying with joy in the halls last night,” said St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Patient Care Assistant Sonia Marshall, “We believe in the mission of St. Elizabeth’s, and we’re excited about working together to make our hospital the best that it can be for our patients and also for hospital workers and our families. We look forward to the day when all of our sisters and brothers across Boston are able to have free and fair union elections.”
Click here to read the full story.
Labor deal for SEIU, Boston Archdiocese hospital
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A chain of hospitals owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has reached a labor agreement with the Service Employees Union International. The unions and the hospital group said in a statement Monday night the accord creates “new opportunities to ensure quality patient care” and “more collaborative working conditions.” Click here to read full article.
Caritas and SEIU reach accord - Deal paves way for union effort
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who supported SEIU in its successful effort to unionize home health workers last year, said in a statement, “Caregivers perform one of the most critical roles in helping the sick, but their services are some of the most undervalued. Through this commitment between Caritas Christi and 1199SEIU, everyone involved in delivering quality healthcare to the people of Boston will benefit.”
Dr. Ralph de la Torre, chief executive of Caritas Christi, also hailed the agreement. “We’re breaking down fences,” he said. “This is a new era of cooperation.”
Read more.
January 27, 2009
January 27, 2009
January 27, 2009
January 27, 2009
January 27, 2009
Catholic Scholars Applaud Fair Union Elections Accord
The Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice wrote a letter to congratulate Caritas Christi Hospital System, 199SEIU and the Area Trades Council for their landmark strategic agreement governing union organizing processes and their shared commitment to build productive and innovative labor management relationships. Click here to read the full letter (pdf).
Healthcare groups push for federal bailout funds
Friday, January 2, 2009
With a leafleting, lobbying, and letter-writing blitz, healthcare groups are urging Governor Patrick to use expected federal bailout money to shore up health programs slashed this fall because of the state’s budget crisis.
A coalition of three dozen social service, healthcare, labor, and legal groups - dubbed Put Patients First - is mailing 100,000 Boston area voters a flier about the specific effect of recent cuts to Boston Medical Center and Cambridge Health Alliance. The two institutions serve a large share of the region’s low-income residents and, hospital officials say, are suffering from disproportionate state budget cuts.
Click here for the full article. (PDF)
Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) win higher wages and benefits
On November 25, PCAs voted to ratify their first contract for higher wages and benefits. PCAs, consumers, community supporters and allies, and elected officials welcomed the announcement at the Veronica B. Smith Senior Center in Brighton
Click here for full coverage of historic event.
Docs’ Rx: Free, fair union vote
Christine McConville - Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Dozens of prominent Boston physicians, including two Nobel Prize winners, have asked Boston-area hospital administrators to let their workers freely vote on unionizing efforts. In a full-page advertisement in yesterday’s Boston Herald, 34 area physicians added their voices to a growing chorus of people who say that hospital workers should be allowed to decide if they want to unionize. Click here to read full article.
Leading Massachusetts physicians voice support for free and fair union elections
In an open letter to Massachusetts hospital CEOs, prominent Boston physicians arevoicing their support for the right of hospital workers to participate in free and fair union elections. The letter was published this week in the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and the Boston Metro.
Health workers launch “Eye on Beth Israel” project, say hospital veering from mission. New watchdog website links labor, financial and patient concerns at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center hospital
The “Eye on B.I.” public information campaign will utilize a variety of media and grassroots organizing components to reach hospital patients and taxpayers. Those components will include a massive advertising blitz, including signs and mobile billboards, a new interactive website, www.EyeOnBI.org, and other public outreach activities in the coming days.
Click here for more information
Bolstered by robust union, Cape health care jobs coveted
Cynthia McCormick - Monday, September 1, 2008
Tammy Lawler’s job as a medical secretary at Cape Cod Hospital has her old job as a hairdresser beat on several counts.
As a hospital employee, she gets health benefits, generous vacation time and tuition money for classes or training in health-related fields.
“That’s what brought me to the hospital - the benefits and the wages,” said Lawler, a Dennis resident and the mother of two sons. She credits her ability to earn a living on Cape Cod not only to Cape Cod Healthcare Inc., the parent company of Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals, but also to the hospital workers union.
Click here to read the full article.
Working for youths
Adrian Walker - Friday, August 15, 2008
Labor unions may be a lot of things, but they definitely are not normally social service agencies. SEIU Local 1199 is poised to become an exception to that.
This weekend, the union, in conjunction with the city’s Public Health Commission, will announce an anti-violence program aimed at teens and young adults in the city’s most violent neighborhoods. Many of the members of Service Employees International Union Local 1199 work at Boston Medical Center, where they hold front-row seats on city violence. In many cases, they live in the city as well.
Read more of this article from The Boston Globe…
Hospital workers: download the introductory brochure
A new introductory brochure for non-union hospital workers is available in English, Spanish or Haitian Creole.
MGH worker explains why she wants a union 
Click to play
Why I’m with the union
“My parents always taught me to respect all workers. Our religion commands us to treat workers with dignity and respect. Our Jewish history tells us of immigrant Jews who helped shape the labor movement in the U.S. For these reasons I’ve dedicated my life to fighting for the rights of workers.
The campaign to support heath care workers in Boston is about dignity and respect for hospital workers, who toil daily as lab technicians, food service workers, or custodians. They play an integral role in making patients comfortable and in providing the great patient care we have all come to expect in Boston hospitals.”
Read more of this article from the Jewish Advocate…
Great rally in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area for free and fair elections with Dropkick Murphys! 
Click to play
Hundreds of supporters, hospital workers and union members rallied on May 8 for free and fair union elections for all Boston hospital workers. Special musical guests Dropkick Murphys performed at the rally to show their support for hospital workers, along with the IBEW 103 Bagpipe Band and Haitian percussion band Blem Sou Blem. The rally was supported by the Area Trades Council, the Greater Boston Labor Council, IBEW 103 and other local unions. Read more…
- Read coverage by the Boston Herald (PDF)
- Read coverage by the Boston Metro (PDF)
- Read coverage by the Boston Globe White Coat Notes (PDF)
- Read article on Open Media Boston
- View a photo slideshow of images from the rally
- Watch news coverge by NECN below (Flash required):
Read other recent news & press…
