Iowa Hospital Workers, Alabama AT&T Mobility Techs Join CWA

Seeking strong representation, 90 employees at Hamilton (County) Hospital in Webster City, Iowa have voted to join CWA. The nurses, therapists, technicians and other direct patient care workers were formerly affiliated with the Iowa Nurses Association but said they'd received little support from INA, especially at the bargaining table.

The Hamilton unit is part of District 7's campaign to organize public hospital workers throughout Iowa, district Organizing Coordinator Jeff Lacher said. CWA represents 200 registered nurses at two other public hospitals in the state. District 7 Staff Representative Bonnie Winther and local organizer Teri Murphy assisted the workers with their campaign.

In a statewide campaign in Alabama, seven District 3 locals worked together to organize AT&T Mobility's unit of 30 network technicians through majority sign-up, District 3 Staff Representative M.M. Smith said. Job security and a strong grievance procedure were key issues.