[Feb. 17, 2017] SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Four-hundred fifty healthcare workers recently voted to improve patient care at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. by joining SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), a union of 90,000 healthcare workers across California.

 “Our goal all along has been to provide the best patient care and now we have a stronger voice in making sure that happens on a daily basis,” said Angel Gonzalez, a certified nursing assistant at Saint John’s Health Center. “Having a real say in staffing and patient care will help improve care for the entire community.”

 The vote applies to more than 80 job classifications at the hospital, including everything from nursing assistants and licensed vocational nurses to respiratory therapists and pharmacy technicians.

 The facility opened in 1942 and is owned by Providence St. Joseph Health, which is the third-largest hospital system in the country with 50 facilities, including California hospitals in Burbank, Mission Hills, San Pedro, Tarzana and Torrance. More than 825 employees at the Burbank hospital are members of SEIU-UHW.

The company reported operating revenue of $18.1 billion in 2016.