About.

We are veterinary support staff - just like our members.  We are dedicated to supporting other staff members in their efforts to create positive change in their workplaces. 

Established in 2017

We began this union with a dream of making veterinary support a sustainable, life-long career.  In order to realize this dream, we realize that we must work together to bargain for improvements in workplace safety, training, benefits, and pay. ​

Our Goals

• Empower veterinary support staff to band together and collectively bargain for change in their workplace.
• Establish realistic staff-to-patient ratios to ensure both staff and patient safety. 
• Create workplaces free from bullying and harassment, from fellow staff, management, and clients.
• Advocate for patients and provision of gold-standard care.
• Educate the public, legislators, and others about the roles of different staff members in the veterinary practice.
• Negotiate for benefits to ensure staff health and well-being.
• Negotiate for and enforce payment of a living wage for veterinary support staff.

Leadership

Liz Hughston
President

Liz is an RVT and VTS (SAIM, ECC) practicing as a relief technician, consultant, and trainer in the San Jose, CA area.  She believes passionately in the power of unity and organization and is excited to be leading this effort to improve the working lives of veterinary support staff.

Amy Martunas
​​Vice President

Amy has been working in vet med for over 20 years.  Working for two corporations that truly care about their employees has highlighted the battles that veterinary professionals continue to face in both private and corporate medicine.  She recognizes that we need to stand together and make our collective voices heard. 

Ben Calvert
​Secretary/Treasurer

Ben has seen first hand the benefits that his grandfather and father received from the labor movement in their industries (logging/paper and printing) and believes that the veterinary medical industry will benefit from solidarity and collective bargaining.