Workers vote against joining union

CENTRE HALL — After months of efforts by staff concerned about several issues at the facility, a push for employees of The Meadows Psychiatric Center to unionize was rejected.

The workers voted 67-36 against joining Local 668 of The Services Employees International Union. It was back in February that workers filed to unionize. The employee vote took place two months ago. After the vote, the ballots were impounded while the National Labor Relations Board investigated a claim by The Meadows that the union and its organizers tainted the election. That claim was dismissed.

The groups have until July 11 to file objections to the election. If none are filed, the results will be certified.

The Meadows is a 119-bed hospital that opened in 1984 on a 52-acre campus

at 132 The Meadow Drive, Centre Hall, off State Route 45. It is operated by Universal Health Services, which operates more than 400 health care hospitals, behavior health facilities and ambulatory centers across the United States, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

The facility was recently featured in an expose by Vice News, which detailed the conditions of the facility.

In a press release, SEIU expressed concerns that unsafe conditions continue at the facility even after the ballots were cast and counted. They said workers continue to leave the facility at a high rate because of the conditions. The facility currently has 41 open positions listed on its webpage.

The union still has several pending unfair labor practices charges against the health care company for actions that the union claims are suppressive and retaliatory against employees.

“We’re deeply disappointed for the workers and patients at The Meadows. UHS followed every trick in the anti-union playbook — firing workers, pitting staff against each other and spending thousands of dollars shipping in union-busting consultants from Texas — and the results of this election, unfortunately, spoke to that,” said Steve Catanese, SEIU Local 668 president.

“While the outcome of this vote is disheartening, we will continue to stand with workers and patients at The Meadows.”

In a statement from UHS to The Centre County Gazette about the vote, Director of Business Development Nichole Rutter said, “We are grateful for our employees’ support, and the opportunity they have given us to continue to work directly and collaboratively together. The Meadows employees are doing remarkable things for our patients and our community and we are thankful for their patience, professionalism and dedication to The Meadows and to our patients whom they serve so well.”

The statement also said the hospital is anticipating the certification of the election by the National Labor Relations Board.

The statement also said, “We hope that the union will respect the employees’ clear and definitive decision. The union has no legitimate basis to challenge the election. The Meadows has been truthful and has followed the law in our communications. The vote was clear, and it should be certified. It would be unfortunate if the union were to ignore the clear, democratic decision of the majority of employees and attempt to prolong the process and the distraction the union has created in our hospital.”