Mercy part of Catholic Healthcare Partners-SEIU union vote (Friday the 14th)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/03/03/daily10.html

Monday, March 3, 2008 - 3:38 PM EST

Employees at Mercy Health Partners will vote this month on whether or not to join the Service Employees International Union, as part of an agreement between the union and Mercy's parent, Catholic Healthcare Partners.

Cincinnati-based Catholic Healthcare Partners, which operates health-care facilities in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, reached an agreement with the union to allow votes this months at its hospitals in Cincinnati, Springfield and Lima, Ohio, according to a report in the Lima News. That includes Mercy Health Partners, which operates hospitals in Fairfield, Anderson Township, Mount Airy, Western Hills and Clermont County.

As part of the agreement, the union and health system promised they would not attempt to persuade workers to take sides, according to the newspaper story.

Pete Gemmer, spokesman at Mercy, confirmed that the local hospitals will vote on March 14, and a letter was sent informing employees of the election.

"There will be absolutely no campaigning by either side. The letter that went out to employees on Friday was a joint letter signed by both parties. And the primary focuses from our side in doing this are, No. 1, our employees will have a chance to voice their opinions on whether or not they want to join a union. And two, the 'no campaigning by either side' makes sure that patient care is not compromised in any way as we participate in this election," he said.

A spokeswoman for SEIU District 1199 said the voting will take place among six working groups in each hospital - registered nurses, professionals, technical staff, clerical staff, maintenance workers and support workers. Each will vote separately on whether or not to join the union.

The SEIU, which has a health-care office in Columbus, has been trying to unionize workers at the local Mercy hospitals for several years. Its District 1199 represents more than 5,500 health-care workers in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.