The State of New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board recently granted the IAM Certification of Representation for nearly 100 healthcare workers at the University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center in Rio Rancho, NM.

The Board certified the IAM to represent all full-time and regular part-time occupations, including but not limited to Patient Access and Central Registration Representatives, Clerks, Facilities Service Maintenance Technicians, Food Service Workers, Housekeepers, and more.

This organizing victory was aided by a unique joint campaign led by the IAM and the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico (AFT NM) after they filed a majority of union recognition cards for almost 500 healthcare workers at the UNM Sandoval Regional Medical center earlier this year.

“This victory is groundbreaking news for the labor movement. This is our very first IAM-AFT Joint Healthcare Organizing Partnership victory where we had two unions working side by side together on one organizing target,” said IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen and his staff for putting their trust in this project. We also recognize the Organizing Departments’ Fabian Liendo, Gabby Rogano and Ali Rhodes for their steadfast commitment to this project.”

The IAM is proud to represent these frontline workers and will ensure they get the protections and support they deserve.

“This certification not only marks a critical step in the journey to achieve a seat at the table for these essential workers, but an opportunity to have respect and dignity on the job,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “We are proud to welcome the New Mexico healthcare workers to the IAM family and look forward to negotiating their first union contract.”

For their steadfast commitment to collecting signatures during a pandemic, GVP Allen gave a special thanks to Directing Business Representative Ashley Long, who worked tirelessly to change the Public Employees Bargaining Act (PEBA) Law; Grand Lodge Special Representative Gary E. Allen, who facilitated the PELBA Charges, Joe Solis, Ryan Carrillo, and Adriana Franco; and Adrienne Friend Enghouse, their AFT counterpart.