Vermont Business Magazine After six months of organizing, a majority of the roughly 85 Hospice staff at UVM Home Health and Hospice voted Thursday to formalize their union. Hospice United will represent Nurses, LNAs, Social Workers, Chaplains, Bereavement Coordinators, Volunteers Coordinators, Cooks, and Admin Support in both the McClure Miller Respite House and the community-based team.
“We’re doing this to build a better Hospice,” says Lindsay Gagnon, APRN Hospice Nurse Practitioner. “We deserve fair caseloads, so we can give each patient and family the best care possible at end of life. We deserve fair pay that reflects the highly skilled and specialized care we provide. We deserve respect and a voice, to ensure every team member has what they need to thrive while doing the work we are so passionate about.”
With a 88% voting yes, this victory marks the establishment of union representation at every one of UVM Health Network’s seven locations. Once the votes are certified, staff will begin the process of bargaining their first contract with the UVMHN administration.
According to AFT Vermont union representatives, the UVM Health Network has continued its attempts to undermine the workers’ efforts to form a union by challenging the eligibility of all non-nursing employees. Hospice, as defined by Medicaid’s condition of participation, requires interdisciplinary care including social work, bereavement services, spiritual counsel, and volunteer coordination. The Health Network has denied the eligibility of roughly 20 positions within the Hospice, saying that they do not “share a community of interest” with nursing staff.
UVM Health Network – Home Health and Hospice sent this statement to VermontBiz:
"University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice (HHH) is committed to a culture where our people feel heard, respected and supported. Having served patients and clients wherever they call home in Chittenden or Grand Isle counties for over 100 years, every single one of our employees is central to delivering exceptional care.
"Throughout this process, HHH has focused on ensuring hospice staff had an opportunity to have their voices heard. We believe the election administered on-site by the National Labor Relations Board met that goal and expect to be in contact with the union soon to begin negotiating in good faith a collective bargaining agreement. We want to assure our patients, clients, residents, families and community that our quality care and services will continue uninterrupted."
Hospice United said it will continue to negotiate with UVMHN regarding the inclusion of non-nursing staff members.
“At Hospice, we are an interdisciplinary team that supports patients’ mind, body, and spirit. We’re in the field everyday, solo at times, but never alone – creating a web of care that touches every part of our community. Nobody should be left out; it wouldn’t be Hospice without the whole team,” says Nina Thompson, Chaplain.
Nicole DiVita, an Ophthalmic Technician at UVMMC and president for healthcare of AFT Vermont says of this union election, “I am thrilled that Hospice employees now have a real voice in their workplace, and I’m thrilled to welcome them to AFT Vermont. We are the fastest growing union in the state, representing over 11,000 healthcare and higher education professionals, including nurses and health professionals at five Vermont hospitals. In just the last 4 months, over 700 healthcare workers have organized their union and joined AFT Vermont. When healthcare workers have a voice, we raise the standard of care for our whole community.”
AFT Vermont represents 11,000 healthcare and higher education professionals at the Central Vermont Medical Center, Northwestern Medical Center, UVM Medical Center, University of Vermont, the Vermont State University, Bennington College, Porter Medical Center, Community Health Centers of Burlington, Planned Parenthood of NNE and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. https://AFTVermont.org
6.5.2025. AFT Vermont
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