SALINAS — Workers at local health care provider Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas have chosen to form a union with Service Employees International Union, Local 521.
Clinica de Salud workers provide health care services in Monterey County, with an emphasis on services for farm worker families and the agricultural community. A total of nearly 150 employees, consisting of medical assistants, dental assistants and medical records clerks, will now be represented by SEIU Local 521, and may begin negotiating a contract in the near future.
Clinica employees have been working towards forming a union for several months, and many are excited that the process is complete. In a show of support and cooperation for the workers and the union process, Clinica de Salud and SEIU Local 521 brokered a neutrality agreement in January, calling for both sides to allow the workers make a decision about a union, free of outside conflict and interference.
“From the beginning, it was clear that the majority of Clinica employees wanted to form a union. A union gives us a voice to make Clinica a great place to work and an opportunity to partner with management to improve patient care for our clients. The fact that we were able to move through the union recognition process in a timely manner really shows a commitment from both employees and management that we are ready to move forward and to build a brighter future together,” said Gina Izquiredo, Medical Assistant at the Sanborn Clinic.
Clinical de Salud workers join nearly 3,600 SEIU-represented workers in Monterey County and 57,000 across the Local.
A warm welcome and congratulations to our newest SEIU Local 521 members!
