Pittsburgh-based UPMC is being ordered to put employees back on payroll within two weeks after a claim that it violated federal labor law when four employees involved in unionizing activities were fired, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.
The report cites a 120-page National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge’s opinion, which orders the employees be put back on payroll during that time frame and that UPMC "post a three-page notice informing health system staff that the NLRB 'has found that we violated federal labor law' and that the law gives UPMC employees the right to 'form, join or assist a union; choose representatives to bargain with [UPMC] on your behalf; act together with other employees for your benefit and protection; choose not to engage in any of these protected activities.'"
UPMC also has to promise it "won’t engage in surveillance of conversations and meetings between employees and union organizers and it won't engage in surveillance of conversations and meetings between employees and union organizers and it won’t engage in surveillance of conversations and meetings between employees and union organizers and it won't 'coercively' interrogate UPMC employees regarding their unionizing activities," according to the report.
Although UPMC spokesman Paul Wood said he was disappointed with the ALJ's decision, he was not surprised by the findings. UPMC intends to appeal the decision, according to the report.
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