Orlando Health Hospitals: NLRB finds merit in anti-union complaints

[Mindful, RN]

NLRB finds merit in anti-union complaints against the chain...

The NLRB Finds Merit In Anti-Union Complaints At Orlando Health

The National Labor Relations Board contacted the Union and indicated that the Tampa Regional Office found merit to many of the Union's allegations that Orlando Health hospitals have been violating federal labor law during the nurses' Union organizing campaign.

The NLRB informed the Union that the hospitals will be allowed a chance to settle these allegations but that if they don't, the NLRB's General Counsel will prosecute the hospitals before a federal administrative law judge, alleging:

* at Winnie Palmer Hospital : the employer created the impression that employees are under surveillance because of their union activity; interrogated employees about their Union activity; made threats of unspecified reprisals to employees because of their Union activity; and discriminatorily denied access to off-duty nurses to hospital property because of nurses' Union activity.

* at Dr. Phillips Hospital : interrogated employees about their Union activity; and discriminatorily denied access to off-duty nurses to hospital property because of their Union activity.

* and at South Seminole Hospital also discriminatorily denied access to off-duty nurses to hospital property because of their Union activity. ...

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

[h=3]Most union-busting charges dropped against Orlando Health[/h]wftv.com9

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Orlando Health officials said they have proof that claims of union-busting inside the hospital are false.

In November, Channel 9 first reported that nurses working to form a union filed a series of complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.

Most of those charges, however, were dropped, but Channel 9's Karla Ray found the claims that were upheld could force big changes within the hospital system.

Most of the complaints that were dropped accused Orlando Health administrators of interrogating, monitoring, interfering, restraining and coercing employees.

"The unions made a lot of noise when they filed those charges originally and we said at the time we did nothing wrong and we believe this latest action supports our position," said hospital spokesperson Kena Lewis.

But Orlando Health administrators are still working with the NLRB on the remaining charges, most of which stemmed from Winnie Palmer Hospital, including complaints that employees were watched and interrogated because of union activity.