Nearly 200 hospital workers at Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill Vote to Join 1199SEIU

Healthcare workers vote to join union in continuation of largest hospital organizing effort in New England history

BOSTON, MA – Hospital workers at Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, Massachusetts have voted overwhelmingly to join 1199SEIU. The vote means that the nearly 200 hospital workers at Merrimack Valley will now join with thousands of other workers across Massachusetts in several other Steward Healthcare facilities.

“Healthcare workers across Massachusetts know we must come together to protect the quality of care we provide, the economic health of our hospitals and our communities.” said 1199SEIU President George Gresham. “We’re proud to welcome the workers at Merrimack Valley into the 1199 family – and we’re ready to continue this unprecedented momentum at hospitals throughout Massachusetts.”

The vote included respiratory therapists, radiology techs, nurse assistants, pharmacy techs, secretaries, housekeepers, dietary workers and many others.  Since the launch of the campaign three years ago, thousands of health care workers across Massachusetts have voted to join 1199SEIU for a voice for job security, a better future for their families, and to provide the best patient care.

“Being a part of 1199SEIU is a real benefit to both myself and family,” said Merrimack Valley Hospital Certified Nursing Assistant, Bernadette Marongere. “To have such a great team backing me at all times gives me the security and empowerment that I needed to provide my patients at Merrimack with the highest quality of care possible.”

“We know that when healthcare workers have a voice in the quality of care they provide their patients, the quality of care improves,” said Lisa Houle, an XRay/CT Tech at Merrimack Valley Hospital. “I’m excited to be a part of 1199 because I know our voices will be heard. We now have job security as well as fairness.”