OGDENSBURG — Sixty-two professional, technical, and service unit workers at Claxton Hepburn Hospital voted on Tuesday, May 2, to join 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East.

Workers from the Claxton Hepburn respiratory, radiology and medical labs, including phlebotomists, ultrasound technologists, respiratory therapists, MRI technologists, and others will join the 200 current 1199SEIU members at the hospital.

"Today I voted for fairness,” said Jodi Lachenauer, senior pathology specimen processor, who has worked at the hospital for 10 years. “During COVID we processed every test and went unnoticed and unappreciated. Now, with our union we will have a voice on the job and the raises we deserve."

"As section leads the team relies on us to troubleshoot and support all aspects of the lab,” Helene Eggelson, blood bank section lead for the last 6 years. “We receive calls at all hours of the day, every day of the week, to support work in the lab being done to care for our community members. We should be appreciated and compensated appropriately. Now that we have our union there will be fairness."

"Welcome! It’s exciting for new members to join those we currently represent at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center,” said Helen Wallis, 1199SEIU staff administrative organizer. “The energy around this campaign was contagious and we hope it will continue to grow in our region.”

"I see my future here at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center. Now that we have our union, we are excited for what is to come,” said Ashley Gonzalez, CHMC radiologic technologist. “My family relies on this hospital and all of the people here. We all want to see a bright and secure future here."

New union members will begin bargaining their first union contract soon.