Bishop Noa Home support staff join USW Union

Support staff at the Bishop Noa Home in Escanaba voted to become members of the United Steel Workers (USW) Union on Monday, Nov. 6.

Bishop Noa support staff includes employees in the dietary, environmental and the activities departments. Through the processes of unionizing, the support staff came together to sign union cards. With over 30 percent of the employees in these departments signing union cards the USW could then file with National Labor Relations Board for a vote to unionize.

With an overwhelming vote on Monday, Nov. 6, the staff voted to be represented by the USW and will now join the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) at the home as members of USW Local 2-21. The groups will begin the processes of negotiating a contract with the Bishop Noa Home in the near future.

Stephen Benoit, Union President of Local 2-21 Escanaba Papermakers in Escanaba said, “It is amazing to see the continued solidarity among the employees at the Bishop Noa Home. After the CNAs unionized the support staff decided to do the same. All employees are working toward a positive change as a Union.”

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The United Steelworkers in Escanaba believes in building the community, family, workers, and unions by giving back. USW gives back locally through events such as the USW Strike for Hunger, Backpacks for Schools, Community Anti-Bullying Rallies, and other events that support causes such as Delta County Pregnancy Center and The Benoit Bash for Bay Cliff Health Camp. The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information http://www.usw.org/.