Nurses at San Bernardino Hospital Seek To Change Union Representation
A majority of registered nurses at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, San Bernardino County's largest public hospital, have signed petition cards expressing their support for leaving the San Bernardino County Employees Association and joining the California Nurses Association, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports. An official vote on changing unions will occur within a month, according to David Monkawa, CNA's organizing director. Monkawa said that 57% of nurses signed the cards and that signatures from 40% of nurses at the hospital were needed to hold the election. He added that the election would proceed unless SBCEA challenges the petition.
Tom Ramsey, interim general manager of SBCEA, said that the union was reviewing the petition. Ramsey said, "We're not real tickled [CNA is] trying to raid us." Elizabeth Sanchez, the county employee-relations chief, said that the county is neutral in the election, adding, "The employees have a right to choose" their union representation (Katzanek, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 6/17).
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