The following is a roundup of recent events pertaining to hospital-union relationships, including strikes, legal battles, rallies and new contract agreements. All events were reported since Jan. 20.
1. Unions to demonstrate over Lifespan employee illness policy
Members of Providence-based Rhode Island Hospital's two unions planned a march and rally over changes to Lifespan's sick policy, according to a GoLocalProv report. The unions — the United Nurses & Allied Professionals and Teamsters Local 251 — have claimed the changes are "unfair and draconian," according to the report. However, Lifespan, the hospital's parent company, has said the changes are meant "to better reflect industry best practices while also continuing to provide all employees generous sick time benefits."
2. Windham Community Memorial Hospital employees ratify new labor deals
Nurses, technicians and healthcare workers at Windham Community Memorial Hospital in Willimantic, Conn., ratified three-year contracts with the hospital on Jan. 27. The agreements, reached after nine months of negotiations, cover approximately 350 caregivers represented by the American Federation of Teachers Locals 5099 and 5041.
3. Providence St. Peter employees to picket over new contract
Unionized clinical and service employees at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash., planned to picket amid bargaining efforts for a new contract, reports The Olympian. The employees, represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, have worked under an expired contract. Nine bargaining sessions have taken place since July, according to hospital spokesperson Chris Thomas.
4. Huntington Hospital nurses get greenlight for new union election under NLRB settlement
A recent settlement agreement approved by the National Labor Relations Board paves the way for registered nurses to hold a new union election at Pasadena, Calif.-based Huntington Hospital. Under the agreement, Huntington Hospital is required to post a notice outlining the nurses' federal labor rights for 60 consecutive days throughout the facility, according to a news release from the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United. The CNA said hospital officials must also send a copy of the settlement agreement via email to all Huntington Hospital RNs.
5. Partners HealthCare hospital, SEIU reach agreement allowing union organization
Partners HealthCare's Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital in Boston and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East reached an agreement allowing for a union election at the hospital, reports The Boston Globe. The union said it hopes to add approximately 500 Faulkner Hospital service workers as members.
6. Mayo Clinic, food service workers settle labor conflict
Union food service workers approved a proposal from Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, resolving a months-long labor conflict, reports the Post-Bulletin. The employees, who work at Mayo's southern Minnesota facilities and are represented by the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota, approved the proposal in January.
7. Second appeal filed by Queen of the Valley against employee unionization vote
Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, Calif., filed a second appeal over a union vote that took place last November, according to a Napa Valley Register report. The election involved 419 service and technical workers, who voted by a 3-2 margin to join the National Union of Healthcare Workers.
8.US appeals court upholds Massachusetts hospital system's union-free hiring policy
A U.S. appeals court is backing New Bedford, Mass.-based Southcoast Health System's policy giving hiring preferences to union-free employees, reports Reuters. According to the court, 1199SEIU's collective bargaining agreement for Tobey Hospital workers allows union members a hiring preference when filling union positions, and Southcoast's union-free hiring policy is "an effort to produce more even-handed hiring practices across its three hospitals."