SEIU files Unfair Labor Practice charges against CHS
SEIU files Unfair Labor Practice charges against CHS Hospitals in Spokane for anti-union activity
Union members at Valley Hospital & Medical Center and Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane filed Unfair Labor Practice charges, asserting that Community Health Systems is refusing to engage in good faith negotiations, promoting anti-union activity, failing to supply information on CHS's medical and dental plans, and refusing to provide documents for the 401K plan.
The Unfair Labor Practices were filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday, March 16.
“Instead of bargaining with us and keeping the promises made to our community, CHS is trying to break our union. It’s bad enough that CHS won’t give us the information we need to bargain, but now they’re ordering managers to pass out anti-union materials in the workplace,” said Teri Nicholson, RN at Valley Hospital & Medical Center.
“Where is the CHS that promised to respect this community? Maintain wage and benefit standards in our hospital? Revitalize our hospitals so we could recruit and retain caregivers? This isn’t what we expected at all,” said Rachelle Rickard, Cardiac Sonographer at Deaconess Medical Center.
Tennessee-based CHS recorded over $218 million in profits in 2008, and recently awarded CEO Wayne Smith nearly $2 million in performance bonuses.
Union members are asking CHS to provide the requested documents so they can reach a collective bargaining agreement. CHS acquired the two hospitals in the fall of 2008. Nurses and caregivers at both hospitals have voted to authorize informational picketing. The two sides have scheduled bargaining for this Wednesday.
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW represents 660 service and technical workers at Deaconess Medical Center, and more than 450 nurses, technical, and service workers at Valley Hospital & Medical Center. The collective bargaining agreement that covers both hospitals expired December 31, 2008. Union members and the hospital have been negotiating a new contract for 5 months.
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