The National Labor Relations Board regional office has issued a consolidated complaint against Ascension Providence Rochester (Mich.) Hospital, in response to allegations filed by OPEIU Local 40, which represents registered nurses and radiology technologists at the hospital.
NLRB spokesperson Kayla Blado told Becker's via email that the labor board's regional office in Detroit issued a complaint that covers 10 unfair labor practice charges against Ascension Providence Rochester. The complaint was filed Jan. 10.
The NLRB is seeking settlement in the matter. If the parties don't settle, there will be a hearing with a labor board administrative law judge, beginning on April 15 in Detroit, Ms. Blado said.
According to a news release shared with Becker's, the union alleges that the hospital threatened workers for engaging in protected concerted and union activities in discussing working conditions with each other, communicating their concerns to local businesses and the public and denying off-duty employees access to the public lobby and other non-working areas of the hospital, including threatening to call the police if they did not leave willingly.
The union also alleges that the hospital refused to provide relevant information to the union regarding issues being negotiated in ongoing collective bargaining for successor labor agreements.
OPEIU Local 40 Vice President Michelle Foster said in the union release: "Our members are fighting hard every day to protect the safety of patients, Hospital employees and the community, yet Ascension refuses to bargain in good faith and address the issues required to reach fair and safe contracts."
An Ascension spokesperson shared the following statement with Becker's: "We have received the consolidated complaint from the National Labor Relations Board regional office regarding allegations of certain unfair labor practices. We disagree with these allegations and are evaluating all available options for defending our legal rights. It is important to recognize that these are only allegations at this point. There have not been any decisions made by the NLRB or a court of law regarding the allegations in the complaint."
The NLRB complaint follows a September 2023 strike at Ascension Providence Rochester, which is part of St. Louis-based Ascension. According to the union, both sides reached an interim agreement the following month, and negotiations continue for complete contracts for RN and radiology technologist units.