New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on the New York State Department of Labor to investigate complaints of threatening and coercive behavior at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center, according to the timesunion.
Here are six things to know about the situation.
1. Approximately 2,100 nurses will vote in an election April 12 and 13 on whether to join the New York State Nurses Association, which represents an estimated 40,000 nurses statewide.
2. Efforts to unionize began more than one year ago. However, several nurses have filed complaints with the state labor department, claiming hospital administrators have engaged in escalating "coercive and intimidating" behavior to dissuade the nurses from unionizing, the report states.
3. According to the complaints, hospital officials' behavior included threatening Filipina nurses on work visas by telling them unionizing may affect their immigration status, writing up nurses who discussed the union on nonwork time, tearing down informational flyers posted in the hospital and holding one-on-one "captive audience" meetings to discourage nurses from unionizing, among other behaviors, the report states.
4. Mr. Cuomo issued a statement on the issue March 29, stating, "I am deeply disturbed by recent allegations of threatening and coercive behavior against nurses at Albany Medical Center. New York state is a union state and we believe in the fundamental right to organize. … I stand shoulder to shoulder with our union brothers and sisters and those seeking to organize, especially the men and women who serve our sick and elderly at hospitals across the state. The right to organize is paramount, and New York state will not stand for any attempts to intimidate, illegally prevent or dissuade workers from unionizing."
5. A hospital spokesperson issued a statement to the timesunion stating the institution respects its nurses, and is closely following laws and regulations to ensure nurses have the right to make a "free and informed choice" regarding attempts to unionize.
"Unfortunately, we have received numerous reports of our nurses who intend to vote no being subjected to intimidation and bullying by union supporters," the statement said. "This is a situation we cannot tolerate. We join with the governor in calling for an end to anything other than honest and respectful dialogue."
6. Albany Medical Center nurses attempted to unionize at least three times between 2001 and 2003, with each attempt failing by a narrow margin, according to the report.
To access the full report, click here.