Citing wage concerns, over 680 workers at St. Pat's hospital in Missoula join labor union

Emily Johnson, an associate education and training specialist who's worked at the hospital for three years, led a rally on Wednesday afternoon after the votes were counted. She said that the workers have been burdened by wages that haven't kept up with Missoula's rising housing prices, or the overall cost of living as inflation has wreaked havoc across America.

"What I've been thinking recently is that when you, the community members, come into St. Pat's, you should not be worried that the person helping you is distracted by thoughts of losing their apartment, or how they're going to make rent, or how they're going to pay their medical bills or any other bills," she said. "We all know it's expensive to live here and we are so excited to show Providence that we know what we're worth and know that we want to be appreciated and recognized for our work."

A total of 446 workers voted to join the union compared to 102 opposed. Not every eligible worker voted. The vote still has to be certified by the National Labor Relations Board.

"We have won our vote handily, and we are so proud and happy," Johnson said. "We've been through a lot. We have been working well over a year to get to this point, and we just showed Providence that as a group we are strong, we are ready to give them more."

Johnson said wage increases for long-term employees have been disappointing. The Missoulian asked her why the workers pursued a union.

"One main reason is people who've been working here 10 years are making less than people who are brand new getting hired," she said. "And they say that the market requires that to get new people in the door, but they owe the people who've been committed so long and know how to care for the patients to also earn a livable wage. Providence has not shown that they are going to take the initiative on their own, so we took the initiative to make it happen."

The workers will form a negotiation team and enter collective bargaining negotiations with Providence to reach a labor agreement.

Johnson said that Providence made the workers vote in two groups, divided up between techs and service workers.

"They were trying to make it so that at least one side wouldn't pass, and we both won," she said. "So we fought hard. We fought a lot of opposition. They've had a lot of union busters here for over a month, working real hard to push no union, and we still won."

Providence Montana sent the Missoulian a statement about the vote.

"Yesterday, service and technical caregivers at Providence St. Patrick Hospital voted via secret ballot and elected union representation by Washington-state-based SEIU 1199 NW," the statement said. "Providence supports caregivers’ (employees) right to choose whether to join a union and is committed to fostering a just workplace grounded in dignity, open dialogue and mutual respect. We believe the best outcomes for caregivers, patients, and communities are achieved through direct relationships and transparent communication, while recognizing that caregivers may choose third-party representation by a labor union. We respect those decisions and have a long history of working together with unions that caregivers have chosen to represent them."

The Providence healthcare system is also based in Washington, but the Providence Montana arm operates St. Pat's.

Dozens of employees took part in a little celebration in front of the hospital late Wednesday.

“I love my job and giving back to the community,” said Rosanna Perez, an environmental services tech. “I value being able to provide a safe environment for patients and make them feel well taken care of. We can’t afford not to have a union, and we deserve to have fair wages. St. Patrick has not kept up with providing a livable salary to its employees who in turn are able to contribute back to the community.”

The workers filed for the union election on July 1, when they sent a letter to interim CEO Kirk Bodlovic.

“We’re excited about what this means for the future of our hospital,” said Tina Potter, a patient access coordinator. “Our patients count on us to be there for them, and that’s what keeps us coming back. But if we can’t afford to live here, the gaps in access only get wider. It’s time for Providence to live up to its values of compassion and integrity.”

Coreen Johnson, a certified surgical first assistant in the operating room, said she and her coworkers sought out union representation because they were tired of "not having a seat at the table or a voice for themselves."

Nurses at St. Pat's are represented by the Montana Nurses Association.