CHOMP nurses are organizing to form a union, citing patient safety as their main concern.

After several months of meeting quietly with organizers from the California Nurses Association, registered nurses of the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula made it known publicly on Dec. 5 their intentions to unionize. Some posted up at entrances to CHOMP for two hours each night over the weekend, passing out information to coworkers about the effort.

If successful, it would be the first union at CHOMP in its 91-year history.

“It’s all about patient safety,” one nurse said, before Monterey County Now broke the story online on Dec. 4, the day before the CNA, affiliated with National Nurses United, filed with the National Labor Relations Board requesting an election to form a union. The CNA is now awaiting authorization from the NLRB to begin an election among nurses on whether to unionize. (The NLRB typically first investigates a petition.)

“Registered nurses at [CHOMP] are committed to providing the highest quality care for the people of Monterey. That’s why they’ve taken this first step toward forming a union – filing for an NLRB election – so they can advocate as a collective for contracts that will ensure safe working conditions, protect nurses’ rights, and allow nurses to do what they do best, which is care for our patients,” Sandy Reding, an RN and CNA president, said in a written statement.

The CNA already represents nurses at other regional hospitals, including Salinas Valley Health in Salinas, Mee Memorial in King City, Watsonville Community in Watsonville, Dominican in Santa Cruz and Hazel Hawkins in Hollister.

Montage Health, parent company to CHOMP, issued a written statement from Mindy Maschmeyer, director of communications for Montage, saying that CHOMP “has always been proud of our strong, collaborative relationship with employees, the positive work environment we provide, and our history as a union-free organization. We believe this partnership, along with competitive compensation and benefits, gives our team a meaningful voice in shaping the organization without the need for union representation.

“That said, we respect the right of our nurses to explore unionization and remain committed to open, constructive communication. Our priority continues to be supporting our nursing team and delivering exceptional care to our patients.”

Organizing began earlier this year as nurses sought representation from at least two union organizations, choosing CNA. Meetings took place over the summer, and signature cards asking for CNA to represent them were collected from nurses.

Nurses contend that their concerns about patient safety have been ignored by management and allege cuts in the number of aides working in the hospital, putting more pressure on nurses. Montage officials say that its “Community Affordability Initiative,” launched a year ago with a goal of making $50 million in cost reductions over 24 months, has not negatively impacted quality of care.

In recent months CHOMP has come under scrutiny by state officials over two surgery incidents, followed by its safety score by Leapfrog, a nonprofit rating organization, dropping from a B to a C. Montage leaders have pledged system-wide changes to ensure safe practices.