The IAM Healthcare Union is challenging the results of mail-in union representation elections involving pharmacy technicians at two University of Kansas Health System locations: its 39th Street main campus in Kansas City, Kan., and a specialty pharmacy in the Southlake Business Park in Lenexa, Kan.
The Kansas Public Employee Relations Board, part of the state’s Department of Labor, conducted the elections. The union lost both — by a single vote at each location, KCUR reported.
On May 14, the union and representatives from the health system attended the ballot counting at PERB’s office in Topeka, Kan., the health system said in a statement shared with Becker’s. At both locations, employees rejected unionization, the system said. Of 60 ballots PERB had received at the time of the count, 58 were counted; the health system challenged two cast by individuals who were no longer employees and the union did not object.
On May 29, more than two weeks after the count, PERB notified both parties that it had received 37 additional ballots after the deadline, according to the health system. The union says the late ballots — nearly 40% of all ballots cast — should be counted. KCUR reported the ballots were postmarked before the May 14 deadline but did not arrive until after it, and that PERB is still deciding whether to include them.
The union said that since the results were announced, it has submitted sworn affidavits from 31 pharmacy technicians who attest they completed and mailed their ballots before the May 14 deadline but never had their votes counted.
“I followed every instruction, filled out my ballot and mailed it well before the deadline because I wanted my voice to be heard,” Megan Bacon, a pharmacy technician, said in the union’s release. “When I learned my ballot wasn’t counted, I was shocked and frustrated. This election was decided by just one vote, and there are dozens of us who did everything right but still don’t know why our votes weren’t included. We deserve answers, and we deserve a fair election.”
The IAM Healthcare Union escalated its challenge June 5, saying IAM International President Brian Bryant sent a letter to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly urging action to ensure all properly postmarked ballots are counted. The union also said PERB confirmed it received 37 ballots that were not counted because they arrived after the ballot count, despite being postmarked within the election period.
The health system said it was not involved in the handling of ballots.
“While the health system agrees that the late arrival of these ballots due to mail service delays is unfortunate, these issues were not caused by the health system, nor does the health system believe they were caused by PERB or IAM,” the system said. “The health system will discuss next steps with PERB and IAM.”
Becker’s has reached out to PERB and will update this story if a comment is received.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on June 5.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
