The following is a roundup of recent events pertaining to hospital-union relationships, including strikes, partnerships and new contract agreements. All events were reported within the last month, beginning with the most recent.
1. Ad Campaign Against Payment Cuts Unites SEIU, Hospital Officials
The Service Employees International Union and the Greater New York Hospital Association launched an ad campaign together advocating for Congress to avoid any further cuts to hospital reimbursements. The campaign is part of the Healthcare Education Project, a joint venture between the New York-based 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and the GNYHA.
2. Unionized San Leandro Hospital Nurses Get New Contract After Merger
When San Leandro (Calif.) Hospital becomes part of Oakland, Calif.-based Alameda Health System at the end of this month, its 200 unionized nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association, will have a new contract.
3. Baystate Franklin Nurses Authorize 3-Day Strike
Greenfield, Mass.-based Baystate Franklin Medical Center nurses voted to authorize their union, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, to call a three-day strike.
4. Washington Hospital, California Nurses Association Reach Contract Agreement
Washington Hospital in Fremont, Calif., and the California Nurses Association reached a contract agreement, giving the hospital's 683 nurses pay raises, pending approval by the hospital's board.
5. Union Plans Strike Vote Affecting University of California Hospitals
A union representing 22,000 support and medical services employees at University of California hospitals — AFSCME Local 3299 — is planning a strike vote for Oct. 28 to Oct. 30.
6. Local 39 Strike at Dignity's Dominican Hospital
Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 39, a labor union affiliated with the AFL-CIO, went on strike Oct. 1 outside Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Dominican Hospital, part of San Francisco-based Dignity Health.
7. Gouverneur Hospital to Recognize E.J. Noble Hospital's Unions
The two unions at E.J. Noble Hospital in Gouverneur, N.Y. — the Service Employees International Union and the New York State Nurses Association — will be recognized by Gouverneur Hospital when it takes over operations at E.J. Noble.
8. Olean General Hospital Employees Consider Unionization
A group of 120 employees — members of Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital's technical bargaining unit — are working to unionize through the Communication Workers of America.
9. UPMC Faces 19 Charges of Unfair Labor Practices
The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, claiming the health system harassed and intimidated workers who were trying to unionize at several of its hospitals. The latest complaint includes 19 charges against UPMC for unfair labor practices that stem from a complaint filed by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania in April.
10. Northside Medical Center Nurses Strike; Hospital Files Unfair Labor Charges
Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio, filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board over the validity of the Ohio Nurses Association's 10-day notice of strike intention, saying three notices had conflicting dates, as the nurses went on a 24-hour strike Sept. 24.
11. Teamsters Strike Avoided at St. James Healthcare in Montana
Butte, Mont.-based St. James Healthcare and Teamsters Local No. 2 reached a contract agreement, avoiding a looming strike.
12. John Muir Health, California Nurses Association Reach Contract Deal
More than 700 nurses represented by the California Nurses Association at John Muir Medical Center in Concord, Calif., have a tentative new three-year contract.
13. PeaceHealth St. John Unionized Employees Rally for Contract
About 100 members of the Service Employees International Union Local 49 rallied Sept. 18 outside PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, Wash., over the healthcare benefits in a contract between Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth and the union.