Union officials say 20 employees of Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury, Mass., were fired this week in retaliation for their support of organizing efforts, according to a State House News Service report.
Here are five things to know:
1. The union, 1199 Service Employees International Union United Healthcare Workers East, claims Whittier officials have engaged in "an extremely aggressive anti-union campaign" since workers revealed May 24 they launched efforts to join 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Union officials said this included hiring "anti-union" attorneys.
2. Health center workers were fired on June 14, days before a union election scheduled for June 20, according to 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which represents more than 56,000 healthcare workers across Massachusetts and more than 400,000 workers across the East Coast. A vote in favor of unionization would have covered about 70 professional healthcare staff at Whittier, including social workers, physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists and mental health therapists.
3. In protest of the terminations, the union held a rally June 15.
4. Tim Foley, executive vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, called the terminations "disturbing."
"These dedicated healthcare providers are committed to providing the very best care to patients and their local communities. They were fired by management for supporting unionizing efforts that will enhance patient care and make the health center stronger and more financially viable," he said in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review.
5. Health center officials did not return an email and multiple phone messages from Becker's Hospital Review seeking comments and confirmation of the union's allegations. According to the union, health center officials contend employees were fired due to a loss of grant funding.
Editor's note: Becker's Hospital Review will post any update or response as it is available.
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