Nurses for Montana Hospital System Vote for Bargaining Unit

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Nurses working for a Montana hospital system have voted to unionize.

The Flathead Beacon reports nurses at Kalispell Regional Healthcare facilities voted last Thursday and Friday to set up a collective bargaining unit.

The approximately 650 nurses in the system are being represented by the Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW.

The union says the new members will elect a bargaining committee that will survey members on their priorities for the contract negotiation.

Hospital President and CEO Craig Lambrecht says in a statement that he was disappointed by the vote, but Kalispell Regional Healthcare will work with its employees during the bargaining process.

The push for unionization stemmed from nurses’ concerns about staffing levels, benefit losses and wages.

___

Information from: Flathead Beacon, http://www.flatheadbeacon.com