(ITHACA, NEW YORK) - Two more Units of Nurses have joined Cayuga United-Communications Workers of America (CWA), winning Union Recognition at the Cayuga Health Surgicare Clinic and at the Cayuga Cancer Center in Ithaca.

The Clinics are part of the Centralus Health System with Cayuga Medical Center (CMC).

Registered Nurses (RNs) at CMC won Union Recognition earlier this month.

The Nurses are represented by the CWA.

The Nurses at Cayuga Cancer Center and Surgicare won voluntary recognition, a streamlined pathway to Union Recognition endorsed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that allows Workers to sign Union Authorization Cards to demonstrate their decision to form a Union.

“When Nurses join together, we can make a positive change for our patients and our profession,” said April Mendez, a Hematology and Oncology RN. “We’ve been inspired by our Co-Workers at CMC sticking together through a Union-Busting Campaign and winning their election. And we are proud to win our Union as well. Now, we’re paving the way for the next group of Health Care Workers by building the power to win a Union.”

Nurses began organizing because of deteriorating conditions that impact both their working conditions and patient care.

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, Nurses have seen increasing short staffing that can leave them caring for an unsustainable number of patients, compromising patient care and Worker safety.

Cayuga United-CWA represents more than 300 RNs at Cayuga Medical Center, 23 Nurses at Cayuga Cancer Center and 14 Nurses at Cayuga Health Surgicare.

The Nurses will now be able to begin bargaining with management for a Union contract that addresses their concerns and improves working conditions.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: More Nurses Join Union at Cayuga Health, Winning Voluntary Union Recognition | Communications Workers of America