HCRS of South Eastern Vermont

Clinicians employed by Health Careand Rehabilitation Services of South Eastern Vermont voted on December 6, 2005 to join the UNAP. The vote count was 50 to 4. The issues motivating the employees to organize were establishing an effective voice on the job, greater job security, legal rights, input into important decision making, and improved pay commensurate with their education and professional responsibility.

The new HCRS local plans to join with other mental health providers, advocacy groups, community organizations, political and community leaders, and other unions to bring greater awareness and support for the vital services that they all provide. Within a broader coalition, they plan to develop a stronger political voice to improve funding for their programs and to increase wages to bring them in line with other health professionals.

Westerly Hospital

Westerly Hospital UNAP Local 5104 has been actively helping their coworkers in the business office and switchboard to join their Union. They have signed up a substantial majority of their co-workers and an election has been scheduled for January 26. When the business office and switch board vote to join the Union, The Westerly Hospital will be the first hospital in Rhode Island to be organized wall-towall.

Northern RI ARC

A majority of employees at the ARC of Northern RI have signed a petition to join the UNAP. Employees have worked hard over the past several months, to win an effective voice on the job, greater job security, legal rights, better staffing, and improved pay. Northern RI ARC employees provide vital services to developmentally disabled adults in day programs and residential programs. By organizing, employees will increase their visibility and have a stronger voice in the legislature to improve funding for their programs and to increase wages to levels that truly reflect the difficult and important work that they do. An election will be conducted by the National Labor Relations Board on
January 27.