The National Labor Relations Board has scheduled a hearing with respect to a union's allegations that Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic violated federal labor law when it banned workers from returning to work following a one-day strike in Albert Lea, according to a notice from the NLRB.
At issue is a work stoppage that occurred after 79 Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota members, including certified nursing assistants, housekeepers, sterile processing technicians and utilities and materials workers, went on strike Dec. 19 at Mayo's Albert Lea Campus. The day after the strike, union members unsuccessfully tried to return to work.
Mayo previously said it repeatedly told SEIU leaders and members it would bring in replacement workers if a strike took place. Since a seven-day employment commitment is required for those replacement workers, the striking Mayo employees were told they could not return to their jobs until Dec. 26.
SEIU filed a complaint against Mayo alleging the work stoppage violated federal labor law, and that Mayo refused to provide information, and refused to negotiate in good faith on issues related to health and safety, according to a Star Tribune report.
Mayo told Becker's Hospital Review via email the NLRB hearing does not mean the labor board will make any judgment about the system's handling of the strike. Rather, both sides will present their case in front of an administrative law judge.
The NLRB is slated to hear both sides of the case July 30 in Minneapolis.
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