Unfair labor charge probed at Chino Valley hospital

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_9606945

Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Article Created: 06/16/2008 08:41:50 PM PDT

CHINO - A labor oversight agency is investigating a possible federal law violation at Chino Valley Medical Center after a labor organization objected to a recent election there that rejected a nurses union.

The United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals has charged the medical center, owned by Veritas Health Services, with violating the National Labor Relations Act through the use of unfair coercion tactics in order to persuade employees to vote no on a union election held May 22-23.

The labor organization said hospital officials coerced or restrained employees in the exercise of their rights to form, join or assist a labor organization in the lead-up to the election.

Among the charges:

Hospital officials engaged in surveillance of union-supporting nurses in their interaction with a union organizer.

The hospital stationed security guards near a hospital entrance used by nurses to meet a union organizer.

A new hospital policy prohibiting non-employees from accessing the cafeteria and also discrimination against the union by allowing a for-profit, online university to install a banner and distribute information inside the cafeteria, while refusing the union's request for a similar installation.

FULL story at link.