Cottage Health nurses announce unionization campaign, expect vote on representation by end of the year

In a bold step at Santa Barbara County s largest medical provider, Cottage Health nurses announced a unionization campaign Friday, citing the region’s high cost of living while describing a growing dissatisfaction with their working conditions. Flanked by family members and three Santa Barbara City Council members, nurses at the forefront of the effort gathered across the street from the healthcare system’s flagship Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital—and said they hope to hold and win a union election before the end of the year. “Our patients have a great experience because of the care that we provide to them every day,” said Dianna Hosley, an oncology nurse and former coordinator of the Santa Barbara County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). “That excellent care often comes at a cost,” Hosley said. “We need more staff. We need better compensation. We need some basic transparency, and we’ve tried everything we can, but our efforts have fallen on deaf ears.” Organizing with