For Immediate Release
Friday, March 09, 2001
Good Samaritan Nursing Home Workers Vote to Affiliate with AFSCME
Minneapolis, MN —Employees of University Good Samaritan Center here voted Tuesday to affiliate their formerly independent local union with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. The vote was a resounding 70-1 in favor of affiliating, with a total of 140 workers affected.
"We're very excited to become part of AFSCME's 50,000-strong organization in Minnesota," said Kafui Ahelegbe, president of the nursing home's union. "This affiliation will help us build a stronger future on behalf of our members."
Tuesday's vote marks the first step in a statewide balloting process where a total of 1,450 licensed practical nurses and technical health care workers will consider affiliating with AFSCME this month. While Tuesday's vote was conducted on-site, the remaining workers are voting by mail ballot with ballots counted March 23.
"We're pleased at the strong showing at Good Samaritan, and we are also urging all our members statewide to exercise their vote," said Maxine Davis, board chairwoman of the Minnesota Licensed Practical Nurses' Association (MLPNA). "We want to march into our future as a united organization."
MLPNA represents employees at 40 community hospitals, clinics and nursing homes around the state. The Good Samaritan workers are members of the Technical Employees Association of Minnesota (TEAM), a smaller union that negotiates jointly with MLPNA at four facilities and shares offices in Roseville.
Governing boards of the two independent unions voted unanimously in January to affiliate with AFSCME, subject to the membership ratification. Nationally, AFSCME represents 360,000 members working in hospitals, nursing homes, home health care and mental health agencies.
"Our board's recommendation was based on AFSCME's record of effective political action in Minnesota," Davis said. "This will be a partnership for a stronger future."
