Nearly 1,300 Cottage Hospital nurses begin effort to unionize in Santa Barbara & Goleta

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Nearly 1,300 registered nurses at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital are taking steps to form a union, citing concerns about staffing, benefits and workplace conditions.

The nurses are organizing with SEIU 121RN and plan to file with the National Labor Relations Board to request a union election.

In an announcement Friday, October 23, nurses said rising living costs, changes to benefits, increased workloads and limited participation in workplace decisions have contributed to their decision to organize.

Nurses also say these concerns are making it increasingly difficult for them to remain in the community while continuing to provide care for patients.

The effort includes nurses from both Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.

The organizing effort is the first step in a process that could lead to a union election. The National Labor Relations Board oversees the process, which would determine whether eligible nurses want union representation.

The unionization effort comes as nurses seek a formal process to negotiate with hospital leadership over workplace issues and their concerns about patient care.

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