The United Mine Workers union has filed a union election petition with the National Labor Relations Board, seeking to represent 103 health care workers at the Cherry Tree Nursing Center in Uniontown.
The potential bargaining unit includes all full-time and regular part-time licensed practical nurses; service and maintenance employees, including caregivers, certified nursing assistants, cooks, dietary and activity aides.
"They need a voice, not only for themselves, but for the patients there," said Marlon Whoolery, staff representative for UMW Region 1, based in Masontown, Fayette County.
The union organizer said workers need representation to address several issues, including low staffing levels, wages, health and retirement benefits.
The 120-bed nursing home, at 410 Terrace Drive, Uniontown, is operated by Cherry Tree Health Care Corp. Management declined comment on the organizing drive. The health care company was formed in December 1990, according to the state Corporation Bureau in Harrisburg. Dr. Kishor Joshi is listed as chief executive officer and could not be reached for comment.
The mineworkers' petition for a representation election was filed March 29 with NLRB's Region 6 office in Pittsburgh. Whoolery said a follow-up hearing to determine voter eligibility is scheduled April 12, and he hoped the election could be held sometime next month. The union lost a representation election at the nursing home last year by a close margin.
Whoolery said it wasn't uncommon for the mineworkers' union to reach outside the coalfields for new members. "We've represented health care workers all over the country for a number of years. Their issues are the same as people who work in a factory, mill or a coal mine," he said.
