Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., together spent about $1.5 million on union avoidance consultants who often assist anti-union activities, according to a new report from the Washington, D.C.-based Economic Policy Institute.
For the report, the institute examined publicly available forms filed by consultants with the U.S. Labor Department Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Researchers found that union avoidance consultants reported receiving $1.1 million from Einstein Medical Center for work performed between 2014 and 2017.
An Einstein Medical Center spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review that the medical center felt consultants were "necessary to provide our employees with factual information about their rights regarding unionization and to increase the organization's overall knowledge about union and labor rules."
"We brought in experts to ensure that the communications and actions of our managers complied with all aspects of labor law, and as such, we did not receive any claim from the union that our communications or actions were unfair or in violation of law," the medical center center spokesperson said.
Einstein Medical Center also said the educational process took place over several years to provide a potential bargaining unit of more than 1,000 employees and medical center managers with an understanding of their rights under federal labor law.
At Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, forms analyzed by the institute showed $316,000 spent on union avoidance consultants between 2014 and 2016.
A spokesperson for West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health, of which the medical center is a part, told Becker's the health system "supports organized labor and their ability to collectively bargain on behalf of unionized employees. We are proud of the relationships we have developed with our union colleagues and will continue to work with them in the best interest of our employees across the system."
To read the full report, click here.
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