Pushing for higher wages and more staffing, health care workers in technical and ancillary roles at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford have chosen to unionize.

The hospital’s technical workers — aka allied health professionals — will be represented by the Oregon Nurses Association.

These workers include surgical technicians, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, radiologic technologists and physical and occupational therapy assistants, ONA said in a press release.

About 270 employees would gain representation under the association.

When their authorization cards were filed with the National Labor Relations Board, more than 70% of the workers favored unionizing, according to Myrna Jensen, ONA communications specialist.

The association currently represents the medical center’s registered nurses.

Meanwhile, ancillary staff — which the NLRB classifies as “nonprofessional” workers — have chosen the Service Employees International Union Local 49 to represent them.

These employees include certified nursing assistants, food service workers, housekeepers and janitorial staff. Almost 1,000 people would be represented by SEIU at the medical center, according to SEIU.

ONA and SEIU Local 49 have been collaborating on the unionization effort, said Felisa Hagins, political director at SEIU.

“We see every worker having a voice in the hospital through unionization as a critical component of changing the quality of patient care and the working conditions of the facility,” Hagins said.

Lauren Van Sickle, Asante’s communications manager, said the hospital received a petition filed by the ONA for the technical employees on Friday, April 21, and a petition filed by SEIU Local 49 for nonprofessional employees on Monday, April 24.

“Asante values all team members and will continue to provide the best care to our community and patients,” Van Sickle said in a text.

Jennifer Russell, a respiratory therapist at Asante, said the hospital’s experience during the coronavirus pandemic factored into the workers’ decision. At the height of COVID-19, the hospital exhausted its intensive care and critical care units, as well as its emergency room, Russell said.

Respiratory therapists, she said, are “everywhere in the hospital, and sometimes — especially during COVID — we didn’t have enough people and we were burned out, were exhausted and were ready for more.”

She also pointed to disruptions in staff, including turnover, that put additional pressure on existing employees and could undermine patient care.

“We need more people. We need more people that care, that want to be here and want to stay here and serve our community,” Russell said.

She noted a disparity between workers who are unionized and those who aren’t.

“We understand the difference between union staff and non-union staff,” she said.

In addition, workers would like to see their wages keep up with the cost of living in Southern Oregon.

Erik Zajcew, a receiver in Asante’s nutrition services, said raises have dwindled at Asante, including for longtime employees.

“I personally don’t think that’s right,” Zajcew said, “and I think everybody that is on board with us in this movement also would agree that that is not right.”

The NLRB will schedule elections in the coming weeks.

“We understand that Asante is here for the community, and we will always be here for the community,” Zajcew said. “But also, it is the community that is working for Asante, and if we are not taken care of, how can we give back to the community that so desperately needs us?”

This month, emergency room providers at Providence Medford Medical Center successfully formed a union, possibly the first composed entirely of ER providers. The NLRB counted the votes Tuesday.