The following is a roundup of recent events pertaining to hospital-union relationships, including strikes, pickets and new contract agreements. All events were reported within the last month, beginning with the most recent.
1. NLRB: The Memorial Hospital of Salem County's Dress Code Changes Violated Labor Laws
The National Labor Relations Board found that the Memorial Hospital of Salem County in Salem, N.J., violated national labor laws when it refused to bargain with the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union over changes in the dress code and did not give the union information it requested.
2. Northside Medical Center Nurses Picket
About 100 nurses from Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio, picketed outside the hospital over contract negotiations. Roughly 400 nurses at the hospital have been without a contract for 14 months. The hospital's nurses are represented by the Ohio Nurses Association and the Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association.
3. Lake Shore Health Care Center Employees Vote to Join Union
Two groups of employees at Lake Shore Health Care Center, a nonprofit community hospital in Irving, N.Y., have voted to unionize under 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The unionization vote was held Aug. 29. Two groups — the professional employees and the service, maintenance and clerical workers — voted to join the union, according to preliminary vote results.
4. Touchette Regional Hospital Employees Protest for Raises
Employees of Centreville, Ill.-based Touchette Regional Hospital rallied outside the hospital for higher pay. The Service Employees International Union organized the demonstration.
5. Teamsters Workers Vote to Strike at St. James Healthcare in Montana
Unionized workers at Butte, Mont.-based St. James Healthcare took a strike vote. Teamsters Local No. 2 represents 107 employees at the health system. A potential strike may be avoided if a scheduled mediation session is successful Sept. 19.
6. Weirton Medical Center, SEIU Reach Contract Deal
Weirton (W.Va.) Medical Center and the Service Employees International Union District 1199 reached a new three-year contract agreement for the hospital's unionized employees. The contract includes annual wage increases and improved health and safety provisions. The new agreement is effective Oct. 1.
7. Orlando Health Employees Could Unionize
Some employees at Orlando (Fla.) Health are considering joining a union. Orlando Health has laid off many employees since November 2012 and cut the pay of several others, which sparked unionization discussions amongst employees at the health system.