Bert Nash Center Staff Vote to Join Teamsters Local 696
After a high-stakes campaign involving a six-figure push by management to block unionization, 253 employees at the Lawrence-based Bert Nash Center have voted to join Teamsters Local 696. The landslide victory follows a series of workplace actions in May, signaling a decisive shift for the behavioral health staff.
The vote marks a significant turnaround for the facility’s staff, who previously attempted to organize without successfully securing a contract. Mike Scribner, president of Local 696, noted that the center's investment in an anti-union campaign failed to dampen the resolve of workers seeking collective bargaining power. These employees, responsible for critical behavioral health services across the region, are now preparing to enter contract negotiations.
Amy Munsterman, a licensed practical nurse at the center, views the new affiliation as a mechanism to improve both workplace standards and patient care. By securing a seat at the table, staff aim to stabilize the workforce and better support the community they serve. Teamsters Local 696, which already represents a broad coalition of public and private sector workers across Northern Kansas, will now integrate the Bert Nash employees into its existing regional framework.
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