Election Procedures
The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) will conduct the vote in person at The Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center by secret ballot. Below are the details of the election:
Election Timeline
Date, Time, & Location: Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 6:30am – 9:30am and 4:00pm – 7:00pm at the Community Health Facility, Conference Room AB (200 Maine Street, Lawrence, Kansas)
Who Can Vote:
Voting Group A
All full-time and regular part-time Case Managers, Admission Care Navigators, Waiver Facilitators, Residential Case Managers, Lead Crises Case Managers, Crises Case Managers, Client Care Coordinators, Client Care Specialists, Medical Records, Accounting Specialists (Staff Accountant), Office Support Specialists, Parent Support Specialists, Billing Specialists, Insurance Specialists, Accounts Payable Specialists, Payroll Specialists, Unit Coordinators, Behavioral Health Specialists, Peer Behavior Health Specialists, Lead Behavioral Health Specialists, Peer Support Specialists and IT Technicians employed by the Employer at its facilities located at 200 Maine Street, 346 Maine Street, 1000 West 2nd Street and 950 West 2nd Street, Lawrence, Kansas
Others Permitted to Vote
The parties have agreed that Strategic Marketing Coordinator, Community Engagement Coordinator, Executive Assistants, Program Coordinators, Executive Assistant Crises Services, Finance Project Accountant, Strategic Marketing Coordinator, IT Helpdesk Technician and EHR Database Specialist may vote in the election, but their ballots will be challenged since their eligibility has not been resolved. No decision has been made regarding whether the individuals in these classifications or groups are included in, or excluded from, the bargaining unit. The eligibility or inclusion of these individuals will be resolved if necessary, following the election.
Voting Group B
All full-time and regular part-time Therapists, Outpatient Therapists, Mobile Response Therapists, Providers, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Clinical Consultant Electronic Health Record, and Homeless Outreach Specialists employed by the Employer at its facilities located at 200 Maine Street, 346 Maine Street, 1000 West 2nd Street and 950 West 2nd Street, Lawrence, Kansas.
Others Permitted to Vote
The parties have agreed that the Clinical Consultant Electronic Health Record, Charge Nurses, Clinical and Business Quality Analysts, Clinical Quality and Outcomes Coordinator, Clinical and Business Operations Analyst and Organizational Excellence Coordinator may vote in the election, but their ballots will be challenged since their eligibility has not been resolved. No decision has been made regarding whether the individuals in these classifications or groups are included in or excluded from the bargaining unit. The eligibility or inclusion of these individuals will be resolved, if necessary, following the election.
Who Can’t Vote: Office clerical employees, guards and supervisors as defined in the Act, and all other employees.
Who Will Be Present When You Vote: The election will be conducted by a representative from the National Labor Relations Board. BNC and the IBT can have an observer present, who are typically eligible voters. The observers are present to confirm a potential voter’s employment status with BNC before the NLRB agent hands them a ballot. None of the individuals present will be able to see how you vote.
Instructions to fill out and complete the ballot:
Voting Group A
The question on the ballot will be: "Do you wish to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 696?”. The choices on the ballot will be “Yes” or “No”.
If you want to be represented by the union, simply place an “X” in the box labeled YES.
If you do not want to be represented by the union, simply write an “X” in the box labeled NO.
Voting Group B
Two questions shall appear on the ballot for Voting Group B: “Do you wish to be included with nonprofessional employees in a unit for the purposes of collective bargaining?” The choices on the ballot will be "Yes" or "No"
and
"Do you wish to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 696?”. The choices on the ballot will be “Yes” or “No”.
If you want to be represented by the union, simply place an “X” in the box labeled YES.
If you do not want to be represented by the union, simply write an “X” in the box labeled NO.
All you should do is place an “X” in the box of your choice, fold up the ballot and put it in the ballot box.
Do not write anything else on the ballot, such as your name, classification, or department. If you do write anything else on the ballot other than the “X” in the box of your choice, the NLRB will likely not count your ballot.
Voting is quick, easy, and secret. Please exercise your right to vote. A simple majority of those who actually appear, and vote determines the election result, either in favor of or against the IBT. Not voting does not mean a NO or a YES vote to the union; it means that your voice is not heard.
Counting the Vote: The NLRB agent will open all ballots and count them immediately following closure of the voting period. The result will be determined by the simple majority of votes actually cast in the election.