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.
Currently, many of us here at St. Charles are organizing a union. Today, we filed our petition for union recognition with the National Labor Relations Board, with a super majority support.
What we hope to achieve through our organizing efforts is an effective partnership with St. Charles management that will help ensure our success in meeting the many challenges our community faces. We believe that involving us in decisions that affect this hospital’s financial viability and quality of patient care will improve the health of the community as a whole.
What do we want?
By coming together as a union, we hope to bring positive change to our working lives, including:
- A voice at work. By forming a union, we will join together and negotiate a contract with St. Charles management, giving us a voice in decisions that affect our daily working lives.
- Quality care. We strive to create an atmosphere of respect, where we can bring our ideas regarding quality care to light. Our goal is to feel good about bringing our loved ones here for medical care.
- Better wages and benefits. We want to work with management to find financial solutions that include recognition for our years of commitment to the hospital, regular raises and affordable healthcare.
- Stability. We believe our community receives better care when our work is done by long time employees rather than outsourced to temporary staff.
- A chance to make a life in this community. We want careers that can support our families, and make it possible to live and take part in Bend’s growth and prosperity.
We are seeking a future that honors the proud history of this hospital. We are organizing a union now because we believe that we’re stronger together. All of us, together, deserve a voice in our future, and the future of this community. We are St. Charles!
Sincerely,
St. Charles Organizing Committee, signed below