(UPSTATE NEW YORK) - Registered Nurses (RNs) at Guthrie Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton have voted by a 2-to-1 margin in favor of joining 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Healthcare Workers East, the largest Health Care Workers Union in the country.

The new Bargaining Unit includes 340 RNs at Guthrie Lourdes Hospital who provide care in Inpatient/Acute Care, Wound Care, Cardiac Catheterization, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Diagnostic Radiology, Radiology Administration, Medical Oncology, Hem/Oncology Services and Radiation Oncology.

The Hospital is a 197-bed Acute Care Facility that joined the Guthrie System in early 2024.

RN Candice Mozes said: "Nurses need a real say in how our Hospital is run, down to how and where resources are allocated. Forming our Union means that we will be partners in decision-making with hospital management. When our voices are heard and we have the tools we need to do the job, patients will receive more appropriate care.”

Guthrie Lourdes Hospital Nurses now join their 1199 SEIU Colleagues at Corning Hospital, located just down the 86 freeway.

Workers at Guthrie’s Corning Hospital have been represented by the Union for many years, recently negotiating a new contract that improves working conditions, benefits and wages needed to retain and recruit Workers at the Hospital.

Now the Guthrie Lourdes Nurses will begin to identify the key issues for contract talks with their employer and elect a Member-led Bargaining Committee. 

Once the election results are certified by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Lourdes Gutherie Hospital and 1199 SEIU will begin negotiations.

“Change isn’t coming without us having a seat at the table,” RN Katie Thepsombat said.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: Registered Nurses at Guthrie Lourdes Vote 2 to 1 to Join 1199SEIU, Largest Healthcare Workers Union :: 1199SEIU