The National Labor Relations Board has sued Barstow (Calif.) Community Hospital, alleging unfair business practices and labor code violations, according to a Courthouse News report.
Here are five things to know about the lawsuit.
1. The NLRB filed the lawsuit July 21 following complaints from the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee union, according to the report.
2. In the NLRB's federal complaint, the labor board said BCH last year began requiring intensive care nurses to do electronic full-body patient assessments every four hours; stopped giving nurses annual pay raises; and unilaterally altered its disciplinary policies on overtime, Courthouse News reports. The NLRB said the union requested information about these changes, but the hospital refused to provide that information.
3. Furthermore, the NLRB claims the hospital did not intend to truly negotiate with nurses, and all of its proposals were either "predictably unacceptable" or aimed at weakening the union's bargaining authority, according to the report.
4. Hospital spokesman John Rader told Courthouse News in an email: "Barstow Community Hospital is aware of the lawsuit filed by the National Labor Relations Board. This is an interim, legal matter with no impact on our daily operations. Patients can continue to count on us for safe, quality care."
5. Courthouse News reports that the NLRB wants an injunction to stop the hospital from enforcing its new policies and an order that it supply the union the requested materials and bargain in good faith.
More articles on human capital and risk:
Nathan Littauer Hospital to pay nurses back wages following January lockout
Baptist Health South Florida offers buyouts to reduce workforce: 4 things to know
Ocean Beach Hospital nurses to vote on tentative contract agreement