St. Rita’s employees to vote on union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=49952

Bart Mills - Feb. 29th, 2008

LIMA — More than 2,000 employees at St. Rita’s Medical Center will have the chance to vote March 12 on whether or not to unionize.

Officials from the hospital and the Service Employees International Union confirmed Friday the two sides have agreed on ground rules that will allow the hospital’s employees to vote on whether or not to join the union. Those ground rules include a rather unique item that forbids either side from lobbying employees, meaning neither the hospital or union will approach employees about their decision prior to the March 12 vote.

“Basically, the ground rules are made to make sure employees can make a decision without the influence of the hospital or the union. It’s all meant to create a very pressure-free environment,” said SEIU spokeswoman Joyce Moscato.

Catholic Healthcare Partners, parent company of St. Rita’s, reached the agreement with the union representing more than 30,000 healthcare workers across Ohio. The company agreed to open up for votes at all their Ohio hospitals and the union agreed that neither side would campaign for their cause.

“It’s really an innovative approach to provide our employees an opportunity to decide if they want to be part of a union in a non-partisan way,” said Brian Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer at St. Rita’s.

FULL story at link.