2 Catholic Hospitals Defeat Union

A two-year battle of wills between a fast-growing hospital chain and an equally aggressive labor union came to a head when hospital employees voted solidly against joining the union.

Service and maintenance workers at St. Francis and Robert F. Kennedy medical centers, both in Los Angeles, on Thursday voted 363 to 199 against joining the Service Employees International Union. There were an additional 90 challenged ballots, not nearly enough to change the outcome.

“They really misjudged the employees,” said Joyce Hawthorne, regional director of communications for Catholic Healthcare West. “This vote showed the workers believed in the hospital and wanted to continue the direct relationship.”

SEIU spokeswoman Lisa Hubbard said employees were intimidated and the union may file objections. “Workers [who supported the union] are very upset and shellshocked,” she said.

The chain, which is owned by nine orders of nuns, owns 46 hospitals in California. About 30% of Catholic Healthcare West employees belong to unions.

SEIU asked Catholic Healthcare West to remain neutral during the campaign and enlisted local priests and liberal church leaders for support. The hospital chain refused, however, and hired consultants experienced in defeating unions.

The union was defeated by a similar margin in late January at five Catholic Healthcare West hospitals near Sacramento, but won the right to represent about 300 licensed vocational nurses and respiratory specialists at St. Francis and Kennedy last month.