400 Health Care Workers Join CWA in California and New York

Nearly 400 health care workers gained CWA representation through organizing campaigns in California and New York.

A unit of 63 licensed practical nurses and medical technicians at the Faxton campus of the Faxton-St. Luke's Health Center, in Utica, N.Y., voted for CWA Local 1126 by a big 40-16 margin, said District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton. Workers wanted the same level of benefits – guaranteed pay raises, medical benefits, and job security – that nearly 800 CWA-represented LPNs, RNs, and technicians at St. Luke's already have.

More than 300 medical interpreters and clinical research coordinators at the University of California medical centers have joined the Union of Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119, District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp said.

UTPE-Local 9119 already represents nearly 12,000 workers throughout the University of California system.

UTPE-Local 9119 also reached a first contract for 150 skilled trades employees at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Lawrence, Calif. Workers won union certification last year through majority signup, but their employer-contractor, the Bechtel Corp., had tried to block workers' union choice by privatizing their jobs; that move was unsuccessful.