Memorial Hospital files challenge to decision for NUHW
By Dan Verel, Business Journal Staff Reporter
SANTA ROSA — Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital today announced it filed a challenge to a judge’s recent ruling that sided with the National Union of Healthcare Workers in the long-standing labor dispute.
Administrative law judge William Schmidt on May 28 recommended that the National Labor Relations Board uphold the results of a December election in which NUHW was victorious over both rival Service Employees International Union–United Healthcare Workers West and employees who preferred no union to represent about 700 technical, service and maintenance employees.
The hospital, part of St. Joseph Health System, had until today to decide if it would file “exceptions” to the ruling. That filing triggers a labor board review of the hospital’s objections. Such a review can take months.
The hospital maintains its initial objections and challenged ballots, alleging that electioneering and other behavior “unfairly impacted the election results,” according to the latest filing.
The finally tally in the December vote was 283 votes for NUHW, 263 votes for no union, and 13 votes for SEIU–UHWW.
Out of the 563 total votes, NUHW needed a 51 percent majority, or a minimum of 282 votes. The hospital challenged four ballots and said that the employees who voted for no union have urged the administration to challenge the results.
“Given the strong feelings on both sides of this issue, it is important to conclude the process and have the NLRB render a ruling,” said Debra Miller, vice president of human resources, in a letter that was distributed to employees and also provided to the Business Journal.
A spokesman from the NUHW said it was disappointed by the hospitals decision to file exceptions but is confident the labor board will uphold the May 28 decision. That ruling, if upheld, would certify the union as the collective-bargaining representative at the trauma center.
The NUHW spokesman claimed the hospital is prolonging the process. The union has seven days to file a response to the hospital’s exceptions.
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Too bad. People want fair treatment and pay for their work. I heard management tell a person that they didn’t need a union and it was the nurses who, after voting to keep their pay raise, were hurting everyone else (trying to turn nonunion against nurses with a union). This was about a week and a half before the vote. Totally illegal but I guess they aren’t concerned that any action will be taken.
by John Amato
It’s too bad these workers are stuck between a union busting employer and a union that doesn’t have the power to fight back. With the Kaiser contract finished and NUHW not even having enough signatures to file for the main Kaiser unit it looks like this little band of thugs will fizzle out before the objections are even settled at Santa Rosa. Maybe then the workers can join together in a real union!
by Joe Smith
I’m not sure what “strong feelings” have to do with Memorial Hospital’s objections to last year’s union vote. They filed specific objections based on specific allegations, and they aren’t even bothering to repeat these allegations here, let alone justify them.
Unfortunately, this behavior seems consistent with Memorial Hospital’s anti-union campaign:
http://michaelaparicio.wordpress.com/2010/06/07/when-will-memorial-hospital-end-its-anti-union-campaign/
Peace,
Michael
by Michael Aparicio
Funny, Joe SEIU staffer! But weak. SEIU just backed out of an election to continue representing ITS OWN MEMBERS at USC Hospital because, in SEIU’s own view, the employer’s opposition to a union was too fierce! SEIU can’t even stand up to an employer at an ALREADY UNIONIZED HOSPITAL! Whereas NUHW won 121 new staffing positions for Kaiser Sunset after about a month or two of taking over from drag-ass SEIU. Whereas, moreover, NUHW was able to not only stand up to USC, the same employer that scared SEIU off, but completely KICK THEIR ASS! I think, at this point, an independent observer would rank SEIU’s strength as somewhere between a dandelion and a dead newt. Thanks to loser, sell-out, lazy, drunken, scared-of-their-own shadow staffers like Joe Smith.
by Joe Smith's Mama