Physician Assistants Group of New York (PAGNY) workers at Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital voted overwhelmingly in favor of uniting in 1199SEIU on September 27.

The 107 physician assistants say they voted for a voice to ensure the highest quality patient care, and to achieve the higher standards of pay and benefits that their co-workers in 1199 have won. They are joining PAGNY PAs who are already 1199 members at Coney Island Hospital, Lincoln Hospital, and Harlem Hospital.

"About five years ago, we tried forming our union and we weren't successful," Charles Odwin, a physician assistant of 15 years at North Central Bronx Hospital said, "but years of no salary increases and high turnover led us to realize that we could only win the same salary increases and benefits that our PAGNY coworkers at other hospitals have if we joined together."