On Tuesday, Kaiser Permanente workers filed petitions for union elections that would allow thousands of Kaiser employees to choose between Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West and the rival National Union of Healthcare Workers, Sacramento Business Journal reports (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 6/29).
The petition comes less than a week after SEIU-UHW ratified a new labor pact with Kaiser workers across the U.S. (Kovner, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 6/29).
Background
In 2009, SEIU officials assumed trusteeship of UHW and removed its leaders amid disagreements over organizing and representing workers. The former UHW leaders started NUHW, and the two unions have competed for members since the split.
Election Details
Kaiser employees filed petitions with the Oakland and Los Angeles offices of the National Labor Relations Board, which will ensure the documents were filed appropriately before scheduling a vote. About 45,000 workers statewide are expected to take part in the union elections (Sacramento Business Journal, 6/29).
NUHW said the elections would constitute the largest vote by private-sector employees since the United Auto Workers unionized Ford in 1941 (Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 6/29).