The deadline is approaching for officials with Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa., to respond to complaints filed by the nurses’ union with the National Labor Relations Board, according to a Delaware County Daily Times report.
Registered nurses were set to continue contract negotiations with hospital officials on Wednesday, and the deadline for Crozer officials to respond to charges from the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents nearly 600 Crozer employees, is Dec. 10, according to the report.
According to the report, the nurses' union alleges "that managers illegally informed employees that they could not picket in support of the union outside in non-working areas of the hospital property; that they interfered with off-duty employees from distributing literature at the hospital’s main entrance; that they gave the impression employees’ union activities were under surveillance by 'numerous undercover security personnel;' and that they refused to give the union relevant information including the results of a Joint Commission accreditation survey that allegedly exposed deficiencies in infection control, surgical services and corporate governance."
Nurses also allege that they have not received information they requested in regard to the agency supplying staff during a time period in September while the nurses were on strike, according to the report.
"The union is gratified that the federal government has stepped in to prevent the ongoing illegal behavior by Crozer management representatives," PASNAP Executive Director Bill Cruice said in a news release, according to the Delaware County Daily Times.
Grant Gegwich, vice president of public relations and marketing for Crozer-Keystone Health System, told the Delaware County Daily Times Tuesday afternoon, "We believe that Crozer-Chester Medical Center has acted lawfully and appropriately throughout this very difficult situation. The issuance of a complaint by the NLRB does not establish guilt. The allegations in the complaint are just claims that must be proven at a hearing before an administrative law judge."
A hearing date for the case is scheduled for Feb. 4 in Philadelphia, according to the report.
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