On Tuesday, November 23, we delivered this letter in person to Jim Diegel, CEO of St. Charles.
To: Mr. Jim Diegel, CEO St. Charles Health System
CC: Mr. Jay Henry, CEO St. Charles Health System, Bend
From the beginning, St. Charles and all of its managers and employees have prided ourselves on being an essential part of the larger Bend community. As the healthcare landscape changes, with increasing costs, federal healthcare reform, and an aging population here in Bend, change is all around.
Rather than passively sit by while the hospital seeks ways to deal with this change, dedicated employees at St. Charles are seeking a voice in the process by organizing a union. Today, we filed our petition for union recognition with the National Labor Relations Board, with a strong majority support.
We want a hospital that honors and collaborates with us. We believe that we’re stronger together, and that as front-line providers of care, we deserve a voice in our future, and the future of this community.
Towards that end, we are asking St. Charles administrators to work with us, to abide by fundamental principles of democracy, and respect the rights of workers to decide together whether they want to have a seat at the negotiating table and a united voice at St. Charles.
Fair and Free Election Principles for St. Charles Employees
- Freedom to discuss without fear of retaliation. No supervisory one-on-one meetings to influence employee decisions. No new rules about when and what we talk about at work. No mandatory paid meetings during work hours to influence employee decisions.
- Employees decide. We decide whether or not to form our own union organization to advocate for our interests and those of our patients, not Supervisors or Managers who won’t be part of our Union.
- Respectful Communications. No distribution of literature that is disparaging to either side.
- Patient care above all. No expenditure of patient care dollars for consultants or activities designed to influence the decisions of workers.
We believe these democratic principles are fair and just, and we hope you will agree. Please advise us of your intent this week.
We look forward to standing together and weighing in on the decisions that affect our lives, our families, our community, and our patients’ care. We look forward to forging a respectful partnership that is sustainable into the future.
Sincerely,
St. Charles Organizing Committee:
- Alexandra Carder, ICU
- Amy Bodda, IP Rehab
- Anna Mastrud, Food Services
- Berta Gochez, ESD
- Blanca Sanchez, ESD
- Brook Montgomery, Laboratory
- Camie Hocker, IMCU/Telemetry
- Carolyn Tapia, Laboratory
- Chris Rosiello, Food Services
- Christine Ames, Food Services
- Cindy Devore, IMCU/Telemetry
- Colei Guyette, IP Phlebotomy
- Connie Follett, Central Processing
- Dana Kempton, Central Processing
- Del Marie Lawson, ICU
- Dolly Billings, Medical Diagnostics
- Dorothy Vibbert, Food Services
- Douglas Berg, Patient Access Services
- Edgar Beltran, Central Processing
- Emmitt Hussey, ESD
- Erika Warfield, OR
- Greg Schmidt, Medical Services
- Heather Buck, IP Phlebotomy
- Heather Miller, Laboratory
- Jason Lusk, Central Processing
- Jennifer Stubblefield, Pharmacy
- Joanne Kennedy, Pharmacy
- John Kahlie, Central Processing
- Jolene Shelton, IP Phlebotomy
- Joni Loverin, IMCU/Telemetry
- JR Martinez, OR
- Julaine Adams, ICU
- Kathy Korne, IP Phlebotomy
- Katie Kruse, Medical Services
- Kenneth Daniels, Central Processing
- Kela Danford, ESD
- Kellie Fletcher, ICU
- Kimberly Kinsey, Pharmacy
- Kristine Bush, Ortho/Neuro
- Larissa Metzger, Food Services
- Lori Buchser, IMCU/Telemetry
- Lori Owen, IMCU/Telemetry
- Lucy Warren, ESD
- Lynn Egbert, ED
- Mary Nelson, Pharmacy
- Mary Rita Bird, Medical Services
- Melvin James, Surgical/Specialty
- Nichole Perlatti, Ortho/Neuro
- Norma Amaro, ICU
- Pam Lee, ESD
- Patrick Hannon, ED
- Rachel Monson, Medical Services
- Rebecca Coder, OP Phlebotomy
- Rhonda Shelfer, Food Services
- Richard Murphy, Pharmacy
- Richard Taylor, ESD
- Robin Mosher, Ortho/Neuro
- Rosalia Roa, Surgical/Specialty
- Rupert J Henry IV, Food Services
- Sabrina Kent, ESD
- Sandra White, Patient Care Services
- Sandra Mesarich, Food Services
- Shanel Goleman, ED
- Shannon Freeman, Medical Services
- Stacy Chapman, ICU
- Suzanne Gundersen, Ortho/Neuro
- Teresa Harshbarger, OR
- Teresa Smith, Food Services
- Whitney Anderson, IP Rehab
- Zaneta Smallwood, Laboratory