Nurse Backing SEIU In Ohio Accuses CNA of Sabotaging Election But Expects It Will Be Rescheduled

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/8146

By Doug Cunningham

So what’s really going on between the SEIU and the California Nurses Association in the organizing effort at Catholic Healthcare Partners in Ohio? Peggy Vaughn is an RN in Ohio supporting SEIU’s three year effort to organize nurses and workers there. She says SEIU got a neutrality agreement with the employer after a long struggle and the elections that was scheduled was no back-room, sweetheart deal. And she says CNA organizers interjected themselves at the last minute to derail the election.

: “I think it's reprehensible that an organization that claims to be pro-worker would do no work at all for organizing and come in the last minute and try to sabotage an election. I personally resent is as a worker. I think they should be held accountable."

The CNA asserts that SEIU did not work closely with the nurses at Catholic Healthcare Partners, opting instead to cut what CNA calls a “top-down deal” directly with the employer. The CNA’s Jill Furillo says CNA has been working with nurses in Ohio for a year and wants to be on the ballot whe na union election is held.

: “Everybody should have the right to be on the ballot. And that's where we go from here."

Vaughn says one key difference between the two unions is that SEIU is organizing support and service workers along with the nurses while CNA is focused just on RN’s. Vaughn says there will be a new election and thousands of nurses and other workers will get a chance to vote on getting union representation and a voice on the job at Catholic Healthcare Partners.

[midnight]

1. We need these nurses.... I hope they can work this out and

come together...