Monthly Archives: December 2016

On Nov. 29, 70 certified nursing assistant workers at HCR ManorCare Health Services in Allentown, Pa., voted overwhelmingly to join the RWDSU. Workers demanded a union because they wanted the dignity and respect that comes with being a union member.

“We were fed up and decided that we needed representation, a voice on the job and job security,” said Certified Nursing Assistant Ruth Santamaria.

The HCR ManorCare Allentown employees reached out to the RWDSU and enthusiastically began organizing. Employees said they were tired of working 15 months without wage increases, annual wage increases as low as 3 cents a year, short staffing, extremely high and unaffordable health care benefits, intimidation and harassment by supervisors, and favoritism that made work an ordeal. The workers were determined to unionize, even in the face of a vicious anti-union campaign by management.

“They were bombarded by daily letters, captive audience meetings, threats of strikes and threats of closure of the nursing home throughout the campaign by numerous company representatives. But workers remained united and strong throughout the campaign,” said RWDSU Organizer Bruce Beal.

On Nov. 17, workers at Union Vitamins in Clearwater, Fla., joined UFCW Local 1625 and became the first union-made vitamin manufacturer in the country. Union Vitamins workers produce vitamins and health supplements, including: vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, omega 3 pure fish oil, multi-vitamins and other products.

“Why buy nonunion-made products when one can buy 100 percent pure union-made vitamins and supplements that save you time and money?” said Jim Harper, president of Union Vitamins. “Union Vitamins will demonstrate to other corporations how they can become union, make quality products, beat foreign competition, and maintain healthy profitability. Union Vitamins is an industry role model for value, efficiency and good health, all under the banner of union workers.”

“We created Union Vitamins to ensure our family atmosphere will remain in place here, and to ensure that all employees are always treated with fairness,” added Harper.

“We are excited and pleased that UFCW Local 1625 has partnered with Union Vitamins, a company that produces the finest vitamins in the world,” said UFCW Local 1625 President Ed Chambers. “We are proud to report that these vitamins are 100 percent union-made. We look forward to growing together and helping our members prosper in this new venture.”