Specialty Healthcare Workers Join USW

For More Information: Maria Somma (412) 562-1992

(Pittsburgh) — After two and a half year battle, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) at Specialty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Mobile, AL finally won collective bargaining rights. The vote was 39-17 for representation by the United Steelworkers (USW).

The election was held in February 2009, but after the employer challenged the direction of election, the ballots were impounded. On August 30, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Washington, D.C. ruled in favor of the USW and allowed the ballots to finally be counted.  

“This is a monumental victory,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “Not just for the CNAs at Specialty, but for workers everywhere.

In a landmark case before the NLRB, the USW successfully argued that unions should be permitted to more freely choose the types of bargaining units they wish to organize, specifically allowing the USW to organize a Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA)-only unit at a non-acute care nursing home facility.

“Although the present system delayed the democratic process, the workers prevailed in winning the right to sit down at a table and bargain with their employer,” said USW International Vice President Fred Redmond. 

The USW represents 850,000 members in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It is the largest private sector union in North America, representing workers in a wide range of industries including metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining, plus office, technical and service workers in health care, security, hotels and municipal governments and agencies.

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