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April 30, 2017 
By Steven Wishnia and Neal Tepel
Richland, WA – Workers at the largest hospital in central Washington state voted Apr. 19-20 to join SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.
The union, which will represent more than 800 employees at Kadlec Regional Medical Center—including nursing assistants, radiology technicians, and dietary and housekeeping staff—won almost 60% of the vote. They began organizing last year, two years after the hospital became part of the Providence Health & Services chain. “I have such a rewarding job, get to witness new life come in to this world and have the opportunity to take care of the mothers and newborns of this community,” said Rachel Luna, an obstetric technician at the hospital’s birth center. “We’ve seen changes in recent years that didn’t work for staff and patients, and now we will have all come together for positive change.” Workers at Providence facilities make up almost two-thirds of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW’s nearly 30,000 members in Washington. Read more
