The National Union of Healthcare Workers is expected to file charges with federal officials this week, alleging that Kaiser Permanente is trying to sway a workplace election in a rival union's favor, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
NUHW claims that Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser has allowed campaign messages from the Service Employees International Union filter into its email system while blocking NUHW emails. The union also claims the healthcare system allowed 50 SEIU stewards to campaign for union election on company time, according to the report. Federal labor law prohibits employers giving preferential treatment to one union over another.
The National Labor Relations Board called for a new election between SEIU and NUHW last week. In Oct. 2010, the majority of Kaiser's 45,000 eligible workers voted to remain members of SEIU, but officials later found warnings issued by the SEIU "tended to stoke unwarranted and coercive voter fears," according to the report.
A Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said the system hadn't taken sides and remains entirely neutral in the dispute. A spokesperson for SEIU's United Healthcare Workers-West also declined to comment on the allegations, but said the union has not received favorable treatment from Kaiser.
The NUHW plans to file the charges by Thursday, according to the report.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on Kaiser Permanente and unions.
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NUHW claims that Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser has allowed campaign messages from the Service Employees International Union filter into its email system while blocking NUHW emails. The union also claims the healthcare system allowed 50 SEIU stewards to campaign for union election on company time, according to the report. Federal labor law prohibits employers giving preferential treatment to one union over another.
The National Labor Relations Board called for a new election between SEIU and NUHW last week. In Oct. 2010, the majority of Kaiser's 45,000 eligible workers voted to remain members of SEIU, but officials later found warnings issued by the SEIU "tended to stoke unwarranted and coercive voter fears," according to the report.
A Kaiser Permanente spokesperson said the system hadn't taken sides and remains entirely neutral in the dispute. A spokesperson for SEIU's United Healthcare Workers-West also declined to comment on the allegations, but said the union has not received favorable treatment from Kaiser.
The NUHW plans to file the charges by Thursday, according to the report.
Read the Wall Street Journal report on Kaiser Permanente and unions.
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