CNA tips status quo, but doesn’t oust SEIU

Outcome for St. Rose nurses still uncertain, but union unrest is clear

By Tony Cook (contact), Michael Mishak (contact)

Friday, May 9, 2008 | 2 a.m.

The Service Employees International Union suffered a clear vote of no confidence this week as registered nurses it represents at three St. Rose Dominican hospitals voted in greater — though still inconclusive — numbers to join a rival union.

Although the California Nurses Association earned more votes — 400 (49.8 percent) to the SEIU’s 377 (46.9 percent) — in the Tuesday and Wednesday balloting, the SEIU will continue to represent 1,100 nurses at the hospitals because a victory requires more than 50 percent of the vote.

Neither side met that threshold because 26 nurses voted for no union representation and six other votes have been contested. Federal labor officials will investigate the six votes to determine their validity. Unless the CNA receives at least five of the contested votes, a runoff election without the option for no union representation will be scheduled.

The election revealed strong dissatisfaction with the SEIU among nurses at St. Rose — and is the most recent blow to one of Nevada’s largest unions.

SEIU Nevada has been rocked by a string of controversies, including a Labor Department investigation into a contested union officer election last year. The union also failed to help deliver a victory for its endorsed candidate, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, in Nevada’s presidential caucus in January.

The setbacks signal diminished union leadership clout and raise questions about solidarity among the 17,500 health care and public sector workers SEIU Nevada represents.

The election exposes division among the rank and file as the union negotiates a new contract with Catholic Healthcare West, owner of St. Rose Dominican hospitals. The union is pushing for higher standards such as staffing ratios for support staff and an end to last-minute shift cancellations for nurses. SEIU officials say St. Rose management has been hostile to their proposals.

The election results are likely to embolden the SEIU’s longtime rival, which defeated the service workers union in a race to represent 500 nurses at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno in December.

“This historic vote is a window to a rebellion brewing among SEIU nurses across the nation,” CNA Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro said.

She said the CNA, which represents 80,000 members in several states, has received calls and e-mails from SEIU nurses coast to coast, including those at other Las Vegas hospitals.

Labor experts say the local is a microcosm of the national SEIU, whose leaders are engaged in a heated debate about how to best grow membership without neglecting the needs of existing members.

“Clearly this could not have happened without discontent inside those hospitals,” said Nelson Lichtenstein, a labor expert at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Still, SEIU Nevada Executive Director Jane McAlevey said, she doesn’t think St. Rose nurses are unhappy with the union. She attributed the results to what she called “dirty campaign” tactics and empty promises from the CNA. CNA officials denied those accusations.

The SEIU used a similar argument when the CNA obtained more than 300 signatures to qualify for an election. At that time, SEIU officials said nurses were misled about what they were signing, even though the card the CNA asked nurses to sign clearly identified its purpose.

Asked how so many nurses were fooled again, McAlevey said: “Smart people do stupid (expletive).”

Andy Stern, the union’s international president, has been aware of the local’s turmoil. He sent a representative to Nevada to mediate infighting after last year’s internal union election — an effort that failed.

He issued a statement Thursday criticizing the CNA for wasting “time and resources on efforts to re-organize the already organized” and offered to sign a no-raid agreement with the CNA.

Labor experts have questioned why the CNA is focusing on SEIU nurses when 86 percent of the nation’s hospital workers are not unionized. The Nevada AFL-CIO and local labor leaders have condemned the CNA’s actions here.

CNA officials counter that the SEIU also is raiding unions. At a hospital in New York, for example, the SEIU is seeking to oust the New York State Nurses Association.

Discussion: 19 comments so far…

By richardsandness

5/9/08 at 7:38 a.m.

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Jane McAlevey's dismissive and condescending comment is indicative of the leadership at SEIU. The local 1107 is out of touch with nurses needs. Instead of negotiating for a respected profession, they dilute nurses value. Thanks for the continued disrespect Jane.
By Sunspot

5/9/08 at 9:39 a.m.

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For the record, the vote at St Rose was not really a raid. The internal strife in the union forced nurses to solicit the CNA to come here. When nurses are not given the respect they deserve, they know they have choices. Why would they want to pay dues to an organization that dismisses them? There was no "dirty campaign" by the CNA. The SEIU local was crawling with International organizers. The night of the vote, staff was waiting at nurses houses to bring them to the vote. All this is a resounding no confidence vote for the executive director. I believe the nurses in this valley might very well follow suit because it is true that other area nurses are contacting the CNA. The question is: Is CNA really "raiding" or are the nurses just fed up? Readers are smart and they will see the truth.
By Vegasrn

5/9/08 at 1:56 p.m.

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Smart people do stupid $#@% everyday---like let Jane McAlevey stay in Las Vegas. If she represents the best of what SEIU has to offer then SEIU's days are numbered in the Valley.
By richardsandness

5/9/08 at 9:59 p.m.

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It is possible that Jane will be spending time behind bars. What will SEIU do with out her?
By richardsandness

5/9/08 at 10:03 p.m.

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I just met a nurse from another hospital system and she said they were beginning to meet in order to get rid of SEIU. All you have to do is ask around and you will find us.
By vegasgranny

5/9/08 at 11:47 p.m.

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McAlevey doesn't think the nurses are unhappy at St. Rose? Well, obviously 425 of them were! She's the only one responsible for all the internal strife in Local 1107...nothing will change for the better until that self proclaimed messiah gets back on her horse and rides off into the sunset! Hurrican Jane-let's hope you blow right out of Vegas and SOON before the entire Local self implodes!
By CHW_VegasNURSE

5/10/08 at 5:48 a.m.

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I have to say and agree with everyone above. CNA did NOT Raid any hospital. We asked CNA to come and help us become like all the other CHW nurses in California and in Reno. SEIU's idea and unprofessional union does NOT protect the interest of professional NURSES nor care about us. NURSES should belong to a professional union. NURSES SHOULD BE WITH NURSES IN CNA. We are fed up! CHW Nurses in Vegas need proper representation that respects and knows the prefession of nursing. CNA is a professional RN union, runned by actively working bedside nurses. CNA is what we, Vegas CHW nurses need.
By LV_RN

5/10/08 at 6:15 a.m.

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SEIU is the furthest thing from a labor union! Their idea of labor/management partnerships does NOTHING to serve it's members. From them to think that they are representing ANYBODY, let alone Nurses is a sell out to management. They DO NOT represent professional nursing issues. Having SEIU is like having NO Voice when it comes to dealing with management. That is NOT A UNION! We should not have to pay dues for improper or no representation at all. Because of THIS union, my insurance rates went up 150%, while others CHW Nurses in California did not because of the protection they have through CNA. We deserve the same benefits enjoyed by other CHW Nurses. The only difference we have from California CHW Nurses is our union. Hopefully nurses in this Valley will see the truth and stand up for themselves.
By richardsandness

5/10/08 at 9:04 a.m.

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How correct, SEIU has become an employment agency. Fortunately we are in a free thinking society and as Jane said, "Smart people do stupid s#!t". Like blow the whistle on the corruption within local 1107. Like expose the lies that SEIU put out about CNA and Registered Nurses. One problem there Jane, those smart people you are talking about are the most respected profession in the United States. You are the Executive Director of a now exposed corrupt local. CNA contracts are superior to SEIU's and your loss to CNA is because your lies were exposed during the campaign. How did you think nurses would not find out? What will happen when the rest of nurses find out you lied to us. Why don't you tell us about how good the SEIU contracts are for nurses? Just lies, lies, lies. Throw in the towel.
By richardsandness

5/10/08 at 9:24 a.m.

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That so called race to represent St. Mary's Reno nurses became a vote between those that wanted CNA and those voting for no union. In the days leading up to the vote SEIU had so little support that they withdrew. That's right, no union had more support than SEIU.
By CHW_VegasNURSE

5/10/08 at 11:30 a.m.

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You are so right! Nurses are smart and we were able to see the truth and expose such corruption. The proof is in the contracts of other CHW CNA Nurses, compared to our contracts. We have nothing that protects us as nurses, it's generic and substandard. I can see why the nurses in St. Mary's Reno did not want the option of SEIU. That alone saids so much. SEIU, just go away and allow NURSES to be a real Nurses Union with CNA.
By richardsandness

5/11/08 at 8:11 a.m.

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Thanks for the ammo Jane. Now nurses nationally know your position toward nurses. We will not rest until the scandal that you are, is gone from the halls of our CHW hospitals.
By vegasgranny

5/11/08 at 10:21 a.m.

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The real issue here is Jane McAlevey. It isn't the union you belong to, it's about what that union can do to make your work life better. The reality is that both SEIU and CNA have their shortcomings--as my mother use to say, "the grass isn't always greener on the other side"...bottom line: McAlevey's inept ability to understand the needs of her members is why we are where we are. She's just been too busy trying to make a name for herself and not paying any attention to the day to day things that are happening to members; not just at St Rose but every place SEIU represents people. A union is nothing (even CNA) without members staying involved, participating and fighting for what they need....cudos to those SEIU members who have taken alot of grief for standing up and fighting back against a corrupt Executive Director and her staff--those are the type of members that help make any union an organization worth being in......I'd just like to see SEIU get back on track fighting/representing all the members--today, tomorrow and forever!
By LV_RN

5/11/08 at 11:13 a.m.

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I agree with you Vegasgranny that a union is as strong as it's members. But here the nurses are 2% of the total represented body and being the backbone of healthcare; there isn't too much interest withinin this organization in representing Nursing issues and needs. SEIU has been proven throughout history and time of not benefiting their members and utilizing their "Strength" in numbers as they claim to have.

Nurses need a professional organization that addresses Nursing issues. SEIU's tactics used during this loss were dirty, deceitful, and childish. How dare you say that Foreign nurses are half nurses? How dare you say that the rest of the members will get crumbs if the nurses leave and join a Professional Nursing Union? How dare you cause animosity in the workplace, by dividing nursing with ancillary staff when they want a union for Nursing. Nurses are able to do their jobs and care for patients with the help of everyone (Respiratory techs, ER techs, LPNs, nursing assistants, housekeeping, secretaries, ect.) We all have our duties in a healthcare system. We all need eachother,so how dare SEIU try to divide that.

SEIU put the fear in their members. Why should members be afraid to stand for what they believe in? Are we reverting back to where people can't say what they need, nor want, nor deserve. Isn't this a free country, with freedom of speech. Isn't a union suppose to protect you??? It's most apparent that SEIU will not and never get on tract, they don't help the first line of healthcare, which are nurses.
By CHW_VegasNURSE

5/11/08 at 11:32 a.m.

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I totally agree with you LV_RN, we are nurses and we deserve to make a choice. We did NOT have the choice before. Nurses need a professional nursing union(CNA)and it's fine for ancillary staff to have their service union. I'm sure if they were able to have a specialized union for their interest and profession they would choose that too. It makes a huge difference looking at it in that perspective. LET THE NURSES GO AND BE WITH A PROFESSIONAL NURSING UNION!!!
By richardsandness

5/11/08 at 4:04 p.m.

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Thanks to everyone for participating in this dialogue. Unlike contract negotiations where RN's were told to shut up and get in line. And then the loyalty oath with people chanting, "Sign it, sign it..." What the &$*@? I do not need anyone outside of my nursing profession telling me how to negotiate my contract. All that is left is a diluted contract. Yes, kudos to those nurses who trusted their instincts and became the new leaders. Their courage inspired most to reject SEIU in about ten weeks. TEN WEEKS! Now all of you who voted no, thinking that would get SEIU out, it is time to vote for CNA. And all of you who said you would see what happens and vote for CNA next time, now is the time. Now is the time for a professional union.
By CHW_VegasNURSE

5/11/08 at 8 p.m.

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You are right. It is time to Vote for CNA. Enough is enough. Leaders were born due to the injustice. Their courage did inspire most to reject SEIU. And Yes, it is time for CHW nurses at St. Rose to come together and vote for CNA. CNA is the key nurses are looking for. Anything well deserved is not easy. But, one important and major factor is that other CHW nurses accomplished awesome contracts already through CNA. That alone is proof. Think about it, why would nurses in Vegas not deserve or get the same?

All those who voted NO to a union, hoping to get rid of SEIU or those waiting to see, it is time to VOTE CNA. The time is here. The time is now. We deserve a professional nursing union. We deserve CNA.
By ProfessionalRN

5/15/08 at 3:44 a.m.

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No Registered Nurse should participate in any union. We are professionals. The union nurses are ruining patient care and our image in the public's eyes. Rally to decertify!!!!!
By expatman

5/20/08 at 7:30 a.m.

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So what will happen to the rest of the Hospital hourly staff when the Nurses join the CNA???

No one has asked this question? Is there any interest in protecting the working conditions, benefits, etc. of these people or are they being overlooked by all parties?

Just playing devils advocate but it seems to me that the Nurses with or without a union are in a pretty strong position to negotiate with management due to the market demand for their expertise.

Has anyone gotten a pulse on how the rest of the Hospitals Non-Nursing Union Workers feel about their status?

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