Ninety-six percent of PESCH members who participated in the vote approved authorizing a strike. 22, PECSH announced health care professionals in the union overwhelmingly backed authorizing a potential strike. The MNA noted in its press release that, shortly before contract negotiations began, Sparrow hired a law firm, Barnes and Thornburg, that specializes in “union avoidance,” according to its website. The MNA said its ultimate goal is to get Sparrow to cease the union busting tactics of which the hospital is accused. A complaint results in a hearing before an NLRB administrative law judge, who can order a variety of remedies. Once it completes that process, a settlement may be reached or the NLRB can issue a complaint against Sparrow. The NLRB said on its website that it typically takes between seven and 14 weeks to investigate a charge, though it can take longer. Sparrow spokesperson John Foren wrote in an email that the hospital is “reviewing the complaint and will respond as appropriate” and noted that Sparrow disputes “all allegations in the complaint.” Sparrow Hospital, Lansing | Susan J. Unlawfully coerced employees’ legally protected right to strike including by making bargaining proposals containing a written threat to withdraw proposals on wages, health care and other economic terms automatically upon notice of a strike.Unlawfully refused to share financial information with the union. Unlawfully created a position for nurses at Sparrow outside of the union.Unlawfully announced that they plan to restrict provider networks in 2022 for employee health insurance plans.Unlawfully abandoned the safe staffing concerns process in the caregivers’ union contract prior to its expiration.The charge also alleges that hospital executives: Sparrow’s administration has crossed the line too many times and must be held accountable.”Īccording to the MNA’s charge filed Wednesday, Sparrow Hospital “unlawfully interrogated staff about union activities and unlawfully attempted to prevent staff from wearing red to show support for their union” and threatened to cut health care and other benefits if workers went on strike. “They keep trying to silence the voices of caregivers. “We are completely fed up with the anti-union attitude Sparrow executives have taken,” Jessica Lannon, a Sparrow nurse and PECSH’s grievance chair, said in a press release. The caregivers recently voted to authorize a strike should union leadership determine it’s necessary. PECSH members - who include nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and therapists, among others - have been working without a contract since Oct. The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) filed an unfair labor practice charge against Sparrow Hospital with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week, alleging that the Lansing-based health care facility has repeatedly violated federal labor law and employed union busting tactics as the hospital and its caregivers’ union negotiate a new contract.Īccording to the MNA, Sparrow executives “have taken an aggressively anti-union approach” as they undergo contract negotiations with the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital (PECSH) union.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |