USW Welcomes 23 New Pediatric Specialty Care Workers in Danville, Pa.

For Danielle Aunkst, a Registered Nurse at Pediatric Specialty Care Medical Day at Danville, the decision to organize was motivated by a desire to continue to show up at her best for the population of vulnerable children in her care. 

Aunkst and her colleagues work as RNs, LPNs, childcare workers, and more at a pediatric care center in Danville, Pa. The children in their care have chronic lung disease, genetic disorders, seizure disorders, feeding intolerance, and other medical conditions.

After months of organizing and a grueling campaign with an employer that forced workers into two separate union elections, Aunkst and her colleagues unanimously voted to join the USW in August. 

The tight-knit group of 23 was motivated by their desire to build a better future for the center's health care workers, children, and families. 

“This is what it comes down to: if we can’t have our own health and safety concerns taken care of, how can we take care of these kids?” asked Aunkst. “We’re trying to care for medically fragile children, and we don’t have paid sick days or affordable health insurance.”

Aunkst and her colleagues are most excited that unionizing grants them the voice on the job they’ve desperately needed. They also look forward to bargaining over paid time off policies, affordable health insurance, and various employer-sponsored benefits as they prepare to negotiate their first union contract. 

“We’re a very close-knit facility, and the employer couldn’t break us down,” said Aunkst. “We care about these kids. They are our main focus, and they can’t take that away from us.”