ARRMC union votes await certification

Technical and service employees at ARRMC voted June 8 whether to work with a labor union. The technical employees — surgical technicians, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, radiologic technologists and physical and occupational therapy assistants — voted in favor of the Oregon Nurses Association 128 to 92.

The service employees votes showed that they do not want to be represented by SEIU. Of the 1,113 employees eligible to vote — including CNAs, housekeepers, nutrition services workers and others — 440 voted against SEIU Local 49, while 436 voted in favor.

There were 67 challenged ballots, however, which could affect the results of the election. Many of the challenges involve employees who were not on the list to vote; the remaining challenges come from SEIU challenging eligible voters from participating.

Although voting has ended, the election results will not become official until the National Labor Relations Board certifies them. Each party had seven days to file objections to the election. Objections were filed in each of the elections, which means the NLRB did not certify any of the election results.

Region 19 of the National Labor Relations Board will likely set a hearing for the objections and challenges in each of the respective elections. Asante will work with the NLRB to determine next steps.

“This is been a challenging process,” said Roy Vinyard, interim president and CEO. “But I’m confident that Asante and our workforce will emerge even stronger.”