The Massachusetts Nurses Association filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board last week, alleging Boston-based Steward Health Care has stonewalled labor negotiations with nurses at Steward Holy Family Hospital at Merrimack Valley, according to a State House News Service report.
The union contends the hospital, with campuses in Haverhill, Mass., and Methuen, Mass., refuses to bargain a new union contract. The MNA also asserts that representatives for Steward Holy Family Hospital at Merrimack Valley who have been sent to bargaining meetings have been given "no authority" to negotiate.
The nurses on Monday said Steward's attempt to "deprive them of any wage or benefit increase" comes as nurses took zero percent wage increases in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and is now impacting Steward's ability to recruit and retain the staff.
The hospital plans to review the charge.
"Holy Family Hospital is proud of the quality care provided by hospital doctors, nurses and staff to our patients every day, and we take pride in the collaborative work we have done with multiple unions to continue improving care and jobs within the facility," Holy Family said in a statement, according to the report. "We will review this complaint carefully and look forward to continuing our ongoing negotiations with the nurses on Friday."
The union said it filed its first charge of unfair labor practice against Steward on Feb. 22, 2016 with the National Labor Relations Board over Steward's alleged refusal to provide information requested by the union. At this point, Steward has supplied some of the information requested, according to the union.
The next negotiating session with the hospital is scheduled for June 10.
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