St. Agnes nurses push for labor vote (Union says it has enough signatures to seek election)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.fresnobee.com/business/story/467788.html

By Tracy Correa / The Fresno Bee
03/17/08 23:08:31

Nurses at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno will push for a union vote, the second in 10 years, officials with the California Nurses Association announced Monday.

Union officials and nurses held a press conference in front of the Catholic-affiliated hospital, saying they had gathered enough signatures to ask the National Labor Relations Board to authorize an election. The union said it filed the request with the labor board about 4 p.m. Monday.

The last time registered nurses at Saint Agnes cast votes on union representation was in 1998, when approval fell short by seven votes.

Don Nielsen, Valley representative for the nurses association, said a majority of the nurses signed cards because many are upset over quality issues, including inadequate staffing that has compromised patient care.

"We are here today to call on Saint Agnes to recognize us as the bargaining unit for nurses," he said. "We are also asking the hospital not to spend patient-care dollars on anti-union consultants to intimidate workers."

Union officials said they also are trying to get the hospital to agree to a written code of conduct during the organizing effort that, among other things, would prohibit the hospital from hiring outside anti-union consultants. More and more unions are pushing for pre-election agreements, saying current federal law doesn't do enough to protect workers during the organizing process.

FULL story at link.