Employees of Klickitat Valley Health Services say they want to unionize, and they think they have the numbers to do it.
Now, nurses at Klickitat Valley Hospital say, only one thing stands in their way: their employer.
The nurses have contacted Service Employees International Union 1199NW and have met in each other's homes to gather more than 100 signatures in support of the union. That gives the 150 or so members of the hospital staff more than enough signatures for a 60 percent supermajority, which allows the union to come in as soon as the signatures are verified.
A breakdown by position was not available, Health Services spokesman Jeff Teal said.
Despite the large numbers, the nurses say, when they presented their intentions to their employer, administrators began what the nurses categorize as "strong-arming" and "creating a culture of intimidation."
Hospital officials, through Teal, dispute that claim, however.
Full Story: Klickitat nurses lead effort to form union [Yakima Herald-Republic,WA]
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