Saint John's Nurses Turn Down Union

By Jorge Casuso

Jan. 17 - Nurses at Saint John's Health Center voted Thursday night not to unionize, a decision hospital officials said underscores the strong relationship between administrators and employees.

The 241 to 192 vote - 56 percent to 44 percent -- capped an organizing effort by the Service Employees International Union, Local 535 to unionize the hospital's approximately 500 nurses.

"With today's vote, our nurses have spoken and their vote to remain union free underscores our long-held position that Saint John's ministry and mission will be best served by preserving the direct, open and flexible relationship that has always existed between Saint John's and its employees," hospital officials said in a statement released minutes after the vote.

"We extend thanks to all of our nurses for taking the time to vote and remain committed to providing our nurses and all Saint John employees with an environment of mutual respect and support to benefit our patients," the statement said.

According to a hospital source, the "low-key" campaign surfaced within the past few months and has received little or no media attention.