32 healthcare workers at St. Peter hospital will join 15,000 other healthcare workers as part of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota
In balloting that was counted early Tuesday morning, 32 EMTs, paramedics, LPNs, medical laboratory technicians, medical laboratory technologists, surgical technologists, radiology technologists, ultrasound technologists, physical therapy assistants, and phlebotomists at Rivers Edge Hospital voted overwhelmingly to unite with their co-workers for a voice on the job. Workers united together to address critical patient care delivery issues and to create a unified voice to enact ideas designed to save money for the public critical access hospital.
“I voted yes to form our union for a voice in decision making, so we can give the best patient care possible,” said Trevor Blaine, paramedic.
“When Employees voices can be heard and both employees and administration can work with open minds, good things can be accomplished. That’s why I supported forming a union at Rivers Edge” said Kristyn Carson, Medical Laboratory Technician.
Trevor Blaine explained further why he stood together with his co-workers: “I take great pride in working as a paramedic and being able to have the privilege to help serve my community. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to help people in their time of need. Therefore, in order for my coworkers and myself to do what we know is best for treating our patients, through training and experience, it is very important and essential that we have a voice in the decision-making, which is why I feel it is imperative to be represented by SEIU Healthcare. Since we employees are the people that are responsible for direct patient care and patient outcomes, decisions made without hearing our input, ideas, or concerns is not only unfair to our patients, but adds even more unneeded stress to an already stressful job.”
