A six-month-long union campaign at the San Benito Health
Foundation ended Thursday in a 19-5 vote in favor of union
representation. The emotional election marked the end of a series
of nasty accusations slung back and forth by union representatives
and the Foundation’s administration, and will now allow the 24
workers to begin orchestrating a union contract with the local
Services Employee International Union.
Hollister – A six-month-long union campaign at the San Benito Health Foundation ended Thursday in a 19-5 vote in favor of union representation. The emotional election marked the end of a series of nasty accusations slung back and forth by union representatives and the Foundation’s administration, and will now allow the 24 workers to begin orchestrating a union contract with the local Services Employee International Union.
The six-month long union campaign created tangible tension within the clinic’s walls, causing more than half the workers to either quit or be fired, according to employees. Workers, including clerical staff, nutrition educators and medical and dental assistants, picketed the Foundation’s administration and held vigils voicing their concerns during the campaign about what they believed were hostile working conditions, said representative Sergio Sanchez.
Sanchez said workers’ concerns included inadequate wages, shoddy benefits, favoritism, disrespect, intimidation by management and being fired for their beliefs.
Payroll employee Carmen Lujan said the victory was worth the battle, and believes the workers’ solidarity over the six months pushed them over the finish line as winners.
“We stuck together,” Lujan said. “Now we will have somebody there that’s going to support us and be there for us. The other way we were standing alone. Now we’re united.”
The animosity between the employees and administration decimated morale and had an effect on patient services, said out-reach worker Christina Gonzales. Just one day after voting to bring in the union, the mood at the Foundation is already lighter and morale is higher, she said.
“This is the moment we were waiting for,” Gonzales said. “Now we have to move on together and bring this clinic back to where it should be.”
Sanchez had accused the Foundation’s executive director, Rosa Vivian Fernandez, of trying to sabotage the union’s efforts to organize and firing people for wanting its representation. He believes her leadership exacerbated the unfavorable working conditions and caused employees to leave.
Fernandez, who had said she didn’t have a problem with workers attempting to unionize, did not return phone calls Friday. She has denied any wrong doing and blamed SEIU for filling the workers’ heads with lies and creating a hostile environment at the Foundation. The clinic’s Board chairperson and spokeswoman, Priscilla Riberia, also did not return calls Friday for comment on the new union.
Former Foundation board member, San Benito County Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz, was pleased to hear the majority of the workers had chosen to unionize because it will bring all employees onto a level playing field, he said.
De La Cruz said there were problems with favoritism in the past and union representation will benefit service and help facilitate better communication.
“The final result will be better service to the community and better service to the patients,” he said. “Which is great.”
The vote Thursday, which was held at 2pm at the clinic, was wrought with emotions ranging from apprehension, to excitement, to joy, he said.
“When the final ballot count came out they let out a nice scream of relief and happiness,” Sanchez said.
After the National Labor Relations Board officially recognizes the union’s representation of the workers sometime next week, Sanchez said he will contact the Foundation’s administration to schedule contract negotiations. Because of the tense relationship between the union and the clinic’s administration, Sanchez said bargaining could be difficult. But he hopes those involved can move beyond the animosity, especially with the clinic’s 30-year anniversary coming up this summer.
“I’m prepared to start with a clean slate. We are content to bargain in good faith and build a relationship,” Sanchez said. “We know that clinic needs our support.”
The workers will meet sometime next week to begin discussion about the intricacies of their union contract – such as salary and benefit requests, working conditions and job requirements, Sanchez said.
But Lujan said money was never the issue and employees were more concerned about respect than wages. While contract negotiations will be another hurdle to jump in the future, for now the employees are taking a deep breath and looking toward a brighter future, Lujan said.
“It’s pretty mellow right now,” she said. “Real hopeful.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
