Providence St. Vincent Caregivers OVERWHELMINGLY Vote YES!

The results are in & St. Vincent’s caregivers voted YES to form their union!

Caregivers at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center have officially joined SEIU Local 49! On June 25, more than 1,100 frontline workers—including certified nursing assistants, cooks, lab assistants, pharmacy technicians, environmental service workers, and patient access representatives—voted YES to form their union.

These essential hospital workers organized their union with SEIU 49 to win a stronger voice in decisions that affect their jobs, their patients, and their families. After years of staffing shortages, rising costs, and changes to benefits, St. Vincent workers stood up together to advocate for the quality care and respect they—and their patients—deserve.

“I’ve worked as a switchboard operator at Providence St. Vincent for 11 years and come from a long line of Providence employees—three generations of my family have worked here,” said Stephanie Whitworth. “Now that we’ve voted to form our union with SEIU Local 49, we can have a voice in staffing and pay. At the end of the day, what we want is simple—to retain our staff to best serve our patients and our community.”

With their union now formed, caregivers at St. Vincent will begin preparing to bargain their first union contract. Their goal: to secure fair wages, safe staffing, and improved conditions that support both patient care and worker well-being.

This historic win builds on growing momentum across the region, as more healthcare workers stand up for better jobs and stronger communities by organizing with SEIU.

“This is an inspiring step forward for Providence St. Vincent’s caregivers—we’re seeing a growing movement of healthcare workers across the region who are coming together to form a union to raise standards and have a voice on the job,” said Meg Niemi, President of SEIU Local 49. “We’re proud to welcome Providence St. Vincent caregivers into our SEIU family. They join 12,000 SEIU members at Providence hospitals and clinics along the West Coast. Their decision to organize reflects their commitment to quality care, respect, and a brighter future.”

Welcome, Providence St. Vincent caregivers—we’re stronger together! 💜✊