More Trouble at Yale-New Haven

Union organizer Kendall Fells said in recent weeks hospital workers have been arrested for handing out pro-unionization leaflets, asked by employers how they plan to vote and called in by hospital officials for mandatory meetings about unionization.

"[The hospital] is now not only violating the contract, they're violating the law," Fells said. "Workers shouldn't have to go through all that to vote in a union election and decide if they want a union or not."

Hospital spokesman Vin Petrini, who last week denied allegations that hospital administrators have tried to interfere in the election, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

While a few hospital workers declined to comment, one worker - who preferred not to be identified - said issues like inadequate hospital staffing and insufficient medical coverage for single parents have persuaded her to vote for unionization.

"We didn't have anything until the union came into the picture," she said. "We need someone to stand up for us."