The dispute between Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo, Calif., and the California Nurses Association will be heard by the National Labor Relations Board Sept. 9, according to a North Bay Business Journal report.
CNA claims Sutter Solano imposed increases in healthcare costs on its nurses in November after the nurses refused to accept higher costs and other demands in contract negotiations, according to a union news release. Also at issue is that the medical center took punitive measures against nurses who walked off the job in a strike Dec. 24, 2012, according to the release.
Sutter officials have disputed both claims. "We believe our health plan, which was lawfully implemented…is competitive and offers a comprehensive health plan that is 100 percent paid by Sutter Health," Nancy Turner, Sutter Solano spokeswoman, said in the North Bay Business Journal report.
She also said: "There continues to be no question in our minds that the union was deliberately attempting to disrupt our business of providing care to patients with a series of hit-and-run intermittent strikes," Ms. Turner said, according to the report. "We are confident that once the NLRB reviews the facts, they will have no choice but to conclude the union was asking our nurses to participate in an unprotected, intermittent strike."
More Articles on Hospitals and Unions:
Kaleida Health, 3 Unions Reach Tentative Agreement
Nurses Picket Outside Olean General Hospital
Capital Medical Center, Union Reach Contract Agreement