Employees at the Walker Methodist Health Center have voted by 61 percent to 39 percent to organize a union with AFSCME Council 14. Workers said the campaign centered on issues of dignity and respect.

The 420-bed nursing home is located at 3737 Bryant Avenue S., Minneapolis. The National Labor Relations Board held an election Friday at the facility for a bargaining unit composed of 330 employees, including nurse aides, medical assistants, laundry workers, housekeepers, and maintenance workers. The vote was 165-105 for union representation.

"The main issue in the campaign was securing respect and dignity for all the workers," said Dorothy Parker, a leader of the employee organizing committee. "We formed a union so that we could have a voice in our working conditions, wages, and benefits. We want equal treatment for all the workers, and consistent policies, applied fairly to all. We want a fair grievance procedure, and guaranteed rights through a written contract."

The organizing committee prevailed despite a strong anti-union campaign by Walker Methodist management. Management required workers to attend anti-union presentations while on the job.

"We did not let management intimidate us from organizing," said Arthur Gongera, an organizing committee leader. "It was our legal right to form a union, and we know that the social principles of the Methodist church supports our moral right as workers to organize and have a voice," said Gongera.

The nursing home employees will be organizing a local of AFSCME Council 14, electing a bargaining committee, and seeking to open negotiations with Walker Methodist management for a union contract.

A second unit of employees, a group of 70 licensed practical nurses, has also petitioned for union representation with AFSCME Council 14. The NLRB has not yet a set a date for the second election.

"We're very proud of the campaign our workers ran. It was a tremendous effort runs solely by the workers around dignity and respect," said Roger Siegal, executive director of AFSCME Council 14. Council 14 is part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. Council 14 represents 15,000 public service employees in the Twin Cities metropolitan region, including over 2000 health care employees.

New AFSCME members and union organizers celebrate their win at Walker Methodist Health Care Center. From left are Tracy Plante, Tony Ogundiran, Abby Plante, Dorothy Parker, Tom Burke, Chris Nelson, Patrober Manani, Nickson Nyakabaria, Wilson Coker, Patrick Nyakundi, Arthur Gongera, Rosalyn Byers and Roger Siegal. Photo by Dania Rajendra, Minneapolis Labor Review