School nurses who work at institutions operated by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) voted Monday to unionize, AFT Connecticut reported Tuesday.
The vote tally was 20 in favor and two opposed, according to a spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Labor. The union said the vote will result in a 30-member bargaining unit of registered and licensed practical nurses employed by CREC, a regional educational service center with three dozen member municipalities.
Kimberly Leslie, a registered nurse employed by CREC for 10 years and based at Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford, is a member of the organizing committee that spearheaded the union effort.
“Even before the votes were tallied, we had already won,” Leslie said. “We came together and spoke with a united voice like never before. I’m so proud of all my colleagues for everything we’ve done, and I know we’ll be even stronger advocates for our students’ health going forward.”
The Connecticut Education Association (CEA) represents CREC’s certified teachers, while classroom paraprofessionals and child care providers are in Council 4 AFSCME, and school van drivers are International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) members.
AFT Connecticut said it represents nurses and health professionals in local and regional school districts, acute care hospitals and medical clinics as well as visiting nurse associations across the state.
