Corvallis city workers represented by AFSCME aren’t the only local employees making union news this fall.
Primary-care clinicians at Samaritan have formally secured union representation, marking a small but significant labor development in our local health care system.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) officially certified Northwest Medicine United on October 26th as the clinicians’ collective bargaining rep. This certification followed a union election involving physicians, physician associates, and nurse practitioners, all of whom are employed by Samaritan Medical Group.
(Photo: Samaritan Medical Group Family Medicine on Ninth Street/The Corvallis Inquirer)
The ballot word again. Too soon? 95 ballots were counted. 82 of these supported union representation. The bargaining unit includes 117 clinicians working across 24 Samaritan primary-care clinics in the state.
This newly secured representation will allow the members to negotiate their first employment contract with Samaritan.
The October 26th timing makes sense. It came just six days before Samaritan’s affiliation with MultiCare took effect on November 1st. Protection and preservation were likely themes among the many reasons primary-care providers organized.
How relevant is the certification development to us? Six local primary-care clinics fall within the bargaining unit’s geographic footprint. Medical practices where residents receive routine care, preventive care, and treatment for ongoing health conditions.
The six Corvallis locations are: Samaritan Internal Medicine, Samaritan Family Medicine Resident Clinic, Samaritan Medical Group Family Medicine on Ninth Street, Samaritan Pediatrics, Samaritan Medical Group Family Medicine on 26th Street, and Samaritan Medical Group Family Medicine on Circle Blvd.
Sources: National Labor Relations Board, Case 19-RC-393150, Samaritan Health Services
This article was written by Jesse Grant, a contributor to The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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