A federal labor board will probe allegations that Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Hospital interfered in unionization efforts by its nurses, The Baltimore Sun reported.
The National Labor Relations Board regional office has scheduled a hearing during which nurses and hospital management will testify so a judge can determine whether labor laws were violated, the report states.
In November, the NLRB for the third time found merit to claims that Johns Hopkins officials interfered in nurse unionization efforts. The board has said it would issue a formal complaint against the hospital if it didn't settle a complaint filed in June by the National Nurses Organizing Committee.
The union has alleged the hospital prohibited nurses from discussing union issues at work and visiting the hospital on their days off to talk to colleagues who were on their breaks about organizing.
According to the report, the NLRB hearing is scheduled for March 6.
Johns Hopkins nurses said they began organizing efforts because of "inadequate conditions and other standards, compared to other nationally recognized university hospitals."
The nurses say the work conditions are leading to high nurse turnover at the hospital.
Hospital spokesperson Kim Hoppe told the Sun that Johns Hopkins "stand[s] by our workplace practices."
She also said the hearing is procedure and "not a verdict or final determination."
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