PENNSYLVANIA Sharon Regional guards vote to certify union

A larger group of employees rejected union representation a month ago.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Guards at Sharon Regional Health System chose union representation Wednesday.
The union certification vote, conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, was 7-3 in favor of collective bargaining representation by the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA).
The guards are the first Sharon Regional employees ever to be represented by a union.
About 600 nonprofessional, skilled maintenance and business office clerical workers voted 2-1 a month ago to reject representation by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Challenging results: The SEIU is challenging those results, accusing the hospital of committing unfair labor practices by threatening and coercing employees to vote against the union.
Sharon Regional denied the charges, saying the employees made the decision and the union should accept it.
The SEIU is also is still trying to organize the hospital's registered nurses and technical employees.
Robert Nichol, vice president of SPFPA Local 502 of Pittsburgh, which will represent the hospital guards, said the guards will elect a committeeman to head their unit and begin negotiations on their first contract. The union will assist in those talks, he said.
Sharon Regional recognizes the right of its employees to select union representation and remains committed to providing the best possible health-care service to the community, said spokesman Ed Newmeyer.
Before the vote, the guards said job security and working conditions were key reasons for their interest in the union.