Golden Valley’s behavioral health specialists vote to join union

Behavioral health specialists at Golden Valley Health Centers have voted to join other unionized workers.

The vote was 12-0 for the mental health therapists and counselors to join Service Employees International Union Local 521, which represents about 450 medical assistants and office personnel who work for Golden Valley in Merced and Stanislaus counties.

The National Labor Relations Board said 24 people were eligible to participate in the vote by mail, and one ballot was voided.

The therapists sought union representation amid tensions among staff members, the board of directors and management led by Chief Executive Officer Tony Weber, who was hired last year.

“It is a significant statement because never would any providers unionize at Golden Valley before this,” said Elizabeth Morrison, a former director who started Golden Valley’s behavioral health service in 2005. Morrison said she was dismissed in October after she expressed concerns about Weber’s hiring.

Golden Valley has more than 20 nonprofit health clinics and provides dental care, mental health services and addiction counseling.

In a prepared statement, Weber said the organization respects the right of employees to choose union membership. “We are committed to working in good faith with the union to maintain a safe and productive workplace,” he said. “We look forward to our next meeting with the union, scheduled for early February.”

At its peak last year, Golden Valley’s behavioral health program had more than 20 therapists, three psychiatrists and an addiction specialist, serving more than 15,000 individual patients. But the staff has been depleted during the recent turmoil.

Staff members said the program has lost several behavioral health specialists, including a psychiatrist and three Spanish-speaking social workers who resigned; Morrison; and an addiction specialist who resigned this month. The behavioral health director who replaced Morrison has since gone on long-term leave.

Golden Valley has seen other key departures, including a former nursing director who resigned, a chief medical officer and clinic manager who were fired, and doctors who have gone on leave.

Mary-Michal Rawling, governmental affairs director, said Golden Valley has been working to fill the gaps. An associate clinical social worker was hired to conduct the first bilingual substance abuse groups, and three behavioral health clinicians are being recruited, “two of which would be new positions.”

She added that four health care providers and a dentist were hired in January, and two pediatricians and obstetricians were brought in under contracts.

“We feel very fortunate to have such dedicated staff helping to move our organization forward in providing high-quality accessible care to all these communities we serve,” Rawling said. “When we have turnover for any reason, we contract with other providers to cover patients on a short-term basis.”

Golden Valley’s administration and board have been stung by open letters from certain staff, who charge that they created a hostile work environment and intimidated employees who questioned policy decisions.

Staff members said the board has responded with letters to its critics, in one case threatening to sue an employee for libel.

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Golden Valley’s behavioral health specialists vote to join union."