Are area health workers the new union frontier?
Several health-care employees and physicians at Valley hospitals and managed-care companies are considering joining labor unions. Ron Coder, area director for the southwest division of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, has received calls from several Valley hospital and managed-care employees, as well as physicians, now that he has successfully paved a union pathway for doctors and support staff at Thomas-Davis Medical Centers in Tucson. “The interest exploded throughout the whole managed-care and hospital arena in the Valley,” Coder said. “I have received contacts from registered nurses at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, concerned about [the] merger with Samaritan Health System.” Another source said St. Joseph’s employees will be meeting next week to discuss forming a union, and that Teamsters union members have been in the area passing out information. St. Joseph’s representatives did not respond to phone calls seeking comment on the matter.
