ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — After two days of voting, a supermajority of nurses at the Cayuga Medical Center have won union representation under the Communications Workers of America.
Authorization cards were first signed by about 350 CMC nurses in December to create Cayuga United CWA. Tompkins County Legislator Iris Packman, who’s a labor attorney and labor organizer, recently told 607 News Now about what’s next following the union vote.
Packman added Centralus Health will have to recognize the union.
“The overwhelming victory by CMC nurses is a shining example of what healthcare professionals can achieve when they join together with a collective voice,” CWA District 1 Vice President Dennis Trainor said. “CMC nurses have overwhelmingly and repeatedly voiced their urgent desire for a union contract, and it is time for management to join us at the bargaining table and get to work improving conditions for nurses and their patients.”
Efforts to form a union among nurses reportedly began about 10 years ago.
