(UTICA) - Nearly 100 Registered Nurses (RNs) at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica have overwhelmingly voted for Union Representation with Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 1126, Representatives from CWA District 1 Healthcare Coordinating Council’s Office in Buffalo informed WNYLaborToday.com this afternoon (Thursday, July 26th).

By an overall vote of 49-to-31, 96 RNs voted yesterday (Wednesday, July 25th) for representation with Local 1126 at the Faxton Campus of Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare in Utica, CWA District Organizing Coordinator Anne Luck-Deak said.  The Nurses were especially motivated by a proposed merger with nearby St. Elizabeth's Hospital and had a strong desire to have a Collective Voice during the changes that may be coming, CWA Officials said.

Karen Marrotta, who serves as Vice President of CWA Local 1126’s RN Unit, and Frank Murphy, who serves as Executive Vice President of Local 1126’s Health Care Unit, coordinated the RN Organizing Effort.  Local 1126 already represents Nurses at the Faxton St. Luke's Campus and Licensed Practical Nurses and Techs at both locations.

Congratulations were extended by the CWA District 1 Healthcare Coordinating Council Staff to Local 1126 President Jason White and the Local Activists who helped with the organizing on this important victory.  The Local was assisted in the Campaign's final stages by the CWA District 1 Healthcare Coordinating Council, District 1 Healthcare Coordinating Council Staffer Bill Nowak and CWA District Organizing Coordinator Anne Luck-Deak, CWA Representative MaryAnn Janicki told Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper.