Long Beach Hospital Nurses Vote Down Union

Registered nurses at Long Beach Memorial Hospital narrowly rebuffed unionization this week, while union drives at three smaller area hospitals were successful. The slim margin in the Long Beach vote, which was 591-581, was a stunning setback for the California Nurses Assn., the fastest-growing nurses union in the state. CNA Director Rose Ann DeMoro claimed that the hospital illegally pressured nurses. She said the union would appeal the results to the National Labor Relations Board. However, hospital spokeswoman Terri Starkman said, “This was a fair election and any allegations of intimidation are unfounded.” The hospital employs about 1,200 nurses. On Thursday, about 300 licensed vocational nurses, respiratory care practitioners and other technical employees at St. Francis and Robert F. Kennedy hospitals voted to join the Service Employees International Union. Also on Thursday, about 450 technical and service workers at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia voted to join the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America.