The Election at Westminster has been cancelled per Order of the NLRB as of January 12, 2025. Under the law, unions have a right to request withdrawal even though an election is already scheduled. We cannot predict whether the Union will continue its organizing efforts at Westminster or another clinic. What we do know is there will not be a Union election at WM Westminster on January 14.
Voting Guidelines
When you get to Westminster Clinica, a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) representative will hand you a secret ballot. With your ballot, enter the private voting booth and make your choice by marking an “X” in one of the boxes.
Professional employees (Voting Group A) will receive two questions:
- Do you wish to be represented in the same bargaining unit with nonprofessional employees?
- Vote “No” if you do not want to be in the same bargaining unit as non-professional employees, OR check “Yes” if you do.
- Do you wish to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by the Union?
- Vote NO if you don’t want to be represented by the Union or vote YES if you do.
Non-professional employees (Voting Group B) receive one question:
- Do you wish to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by the Union?
- Vote NO if you don’t want to be represented by the Union, or vote YES if you do.
With your ballot, enter the private voting booth and make your choice. Don’t make any other marks on the page to prevent your ballot from being invalidated. At the end of the voting period, all ballots in the box are counted by the NLRB representative.
The Election Process
Under federal law, union elections are decided by a majority of the votes actually cast—not the majority of team members at Clinica—so making your voice heard is crucial.
If you don’t vote, you’re giving others the power to make decisions that will impact you and your family.
Make an X in:
The NO box if you do NOT want to have union representation
The YES box if you do want SEIU to speak for you in the workplace
Don’t make any other marks on the page to prevent your ballot from being invalidated.
At the end of the voting period, all ballots in the box are counted by the NLRB representative.
If the majority of the votes are…
“NO” VOTES—OR IF THERE IS A TIE…
Then our existing relationship, without union representation, will remain in place.
“YES” VOTES…
Then you and all of your team members will be represented by the union, whether you voted or not.
REMEMBER
Nobody will know how you voted unless you choose to tell them. We hope you vote NO.
Why Your Vote Matters in the Union Election
Here are 3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE.
If you don’t want a union and you don’t vote, you’ll still have to work under SEIU rules and regulations as part of any union contract if SEIU is your union representative.
Unions negotiate for the collective bargaining unit, not for your individual needs. This means if you don’t vote, you’ll be letting someone else make decisions that will affect YOUR paycheck, YOUR benefits, and YOUR job, without consulting you first.
If SEIU is voted in, it can be very difficult to remove them if employees aren’t happy with them – a process known as decertification. Legally, Clinica wouldn’t be allowed to assist employees at all with that process.
When it comes to this election, NOT voting is the same as voting for the union. Here’s why…
Union election outcomes are based on a majority of the actual votes cast, not a majority of eligible voters.
In this example, this means:
- Only 16 employees vote out of 30 – and only these 16 votes are counted
- 14 employees gave away their right to use their voice by NOT voting!
- Of the 16 that voted, 9 voted “yes” and 7 voted “no.” NINE employees decided for all 30 that a union will be in place
This is why your vote matters. The election isn’t decided until every vote is voted – and that includes your vote. If you don’t vote, you’re giving others the power to make decisions that will impact you and your family.
We encourage every employee to vote in the election – your VOTE is your VOICE. Please vote, and please vote NO.
Election Day FAQs
Can office technicians (OTs) vote?
Yes! We encourage OTs to have their voices heard. OTs will vote, “subject to challenge”, as the Union and Clinica could not agree as to whether the OTs should be included in the unit. This means that your ballot will be handled separately, and depending on the ballot count, your vote may or may not be counted. You can still vote, and vote anonymously. Your vote will be set aside and may be counted depending on litigation between the parties. It is crucial that every voice is heard, and we hope you vote!
What is the process for voting on election day?
The election will take place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Walk-in Room/Purple Group Visit Room at the Westminster Clinic (8510 North Bryant Street). You do not need to bring ID, just arrive and share your name with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) agent.
Why won’t all eligible employees receive the same ballot on election day?
The NLRB requires two different ballots because union organizers demanded that “professional” employees and “non-professional” employees be combined into one bargaining unit.
What is the difference between the two ballots?
The “professional” employees are first asked whether they wish to be included with the “non-professionals” in the same bargaining unit, whereas the “non-professionals” are not asked if they wish to be included with the “professionals.”
Where can I find the definition of “professional employee” and who decides who is a “professional employee” for purposes of the election?
The NLRB decides which job classifications are included in the “professional” and “non-professional” units based on statutory definitions in the National Labor Relations Act, not Clinica. We consider all Clinica employees professionals. You can find the statutory definition of “professional” here.
Will I have to identify myself as either a “professional” or “nonprofessional” employee? Or how can I be sure that I will receive the correct ballot on voting day?
No, you do not need to identify yourself as a professional or non-professional employee. Instead, an NLRB agent will oversee the election and have separate “professional” and “non-professional” voter lists. When you arrive at the polling place and tell the NLRB agent your name, the agent will refer to the voter lists and provide you with the correct ballot. While you will identify yourself by name at that time, your name is not on the ballot and you do not put your name on the ballot, so that your vote remains private.
Can I see which category I am in before the election?
Yes. If you are in the job title of either Physician Assistant; Clinic Nurse; Physician; or Psychiatrist, you are considered a “professional employee” for purposes of the election. If you are a in the job classification of either a Behavioral Health Professional, Case Manager, Clinic Operations Specialist, Enrollment Specialist, Medical Assistant, Medical Records, or Referral Case Manager, for the purposes of this election, you will be considered a “nonprofessional employee”.
Why is there a special procedure for a vote like this?
The law provides the interests of professional and other employees can be so distinct that professional employees should be allowed to vote on whether they want to be combined in one unit with other employees. You can find the statutory language here.
How does the counting of these two types of ballots work?
When the voting is done, an NLRB agent will count the “professional” ballots first. If the majority of “professional” employees vote “yes” to be combined with the “non-professional” employees, then all ballots are combined and counted together to determine whether a union has been voted in as the exclusive bargaining representative for professional and non-professional employees. If the majority of professional employees vote against having a combined unit, the ballots of each group are counted separately to determine whether a majority of voters in each unit voted NO (against having a union) or YES (in favor of having a union).
If I would like to read more about the law, where can I find a copy of the National Labor Relations Act?
It’s on the NLRB’s website, www.nlrb.gov, and can be found in the United States Code, at 29 U.S.C. §§ 151-169.
Other Voting FAQs
Does my vote matter?
The election is decided by a simple majority of employees who actually vote, so a single vote can change the outcome. For example, say there are 100 staff eligible to vote for unionization, but only 5 staff show up to vote. If just 3 of those 5 votes are “Yes,” then union representation (and dues) applies to all 100 staff.
What if I don’t want a union?
The vote will take place in person. On voting day, you will be able to report to a central location (likely on site at Clinica) in a room monitored by the NLRB. You will be given a ballot by the NLRB Board agent- your name will NOT appear on the ballot. You will then vote in a booth, checking off “yes” or “no”, and seal the ballot in an envelope. Then you will leave the booth and place the sealed envelope in the ballot box.
Do I have to vote?
No, but if you don’t, you are letting someone else decide this important question for you.
Is my vote truly anonymous?
Yes. No one will know how you vote unless you tell them yourself. No one in the voting room is allowed by law to influence your vote.