Sixty more workers at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY joined 1199SEIU on December 27, following their 700-plus co-workers who became members of the union last September.

The hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 17, but has obtained interim financing to continue to operate while awaiting a bankruptcy court ruling.

Cynthia Maldonado, a St. Francis patient registration representative for more than a decade, said, “Many of us feel a lack of security about what will happen next, with the hospital in bankruptcy and all the uncertainty surrounding the future. We had no say in the matters, but now that we have a union, we will be able to have a voice at work, negotiate a contract, and level the playing field. We haven’t given up, and now we have a chance to work together to protect quality services at the hospital and protect the jobs of all of us who provide those services.”

The new bargaining unit includes patient registration representatives, financial analysts, payroll clerks, accounts payable representatives, and admitting representatives. Service workers and Registered Nurses, each in different bargaining units, are now preparing for contract negotiations. Maintenance workers at the hospital have been 1199SEIU members for many years.

St. Francis is located in New York’s mid- Hudson Valley, where1199SEIU represents thousands of healthcare workers, at Orange Regional Medical Center, Catskill Regional Medical Center, St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital and many other hospitals and nursing homes in the Hudson Valley and throughout New York State.

Press Coverage

More St. Francis employees join union,Mid-Hudson News

In brief: 2 face felony burglary charges after LaGrange car, foot chase; Saint Francis office workers vote to join 1199 SEIU union, Poughkeepsie Journal