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MASSILLON —
Two Affinity Medical Center nurses have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the August vote by nurses to unionize was “tainted” and accusing the hospital and the National Nurses Organizing Committee of targeting employees who were opposed to unionization efforts.
Nurses Susan Kelley and Cinda Keener, represented by staff attorneys from the privately funded National Right to Work Foundation, filed a motion Thursday to intervene in a federal case in which Affinity and the NNOC are disputing the results of the August election, according to Anthony Riedel, National Right to Work Foundation spokesman.
The foundation issued a press release regarding the pending litigation Tuesday afternoon.
“Keener and Kelley were among others who were opposed to the unionization. ... These nurses are trying to intervene and say that we agree with Affinity (management) that this election was tainted,” Riedel said. “They’re saying the union shouldn’t be in (place) because the election was tainted.”
Chuck Idelson, spokesman for the national NNOC, said Affinity nurses who voted to unionize will not be “cowed” by the National Right to Work Foundation.
“The claims (the foundation) makes in that release are manufactured, wholly without merit and ludicrous,” Idelson said. “The notion that the company is aiding the nurse’s union is absurd on its face.”
In court papers, the nurses contend that a secret “neutrality” agreement was struck between Affinity and NNOC officials. As a result of the agreement, Keener and Kelley believe that Affinity and the NNOC may have “pre-negotiated” bargaining concessions at the expense of employees. The nurses also allege both parties conducted surveillance of employees and intimidated nurses who were against unionization, likely impacting the outcome of the vote.
Unofficially, 100 employees voted for the union, 96 voted against and seven ballots were challenged, according to a court complaint. Kelley and Keener are seeking to “oppose any order enforcing the certification of the NNOC as their exclusive representative because the union lacks the true and uncoerced support of a majority of employees.”
Michelle Mahon, spokeswoman for the National Nurses Organizing Committee-Ohio, the local union that represents employees, declined to comment. NNOC-Ohio previously filed charges against the NLRB, charging Affinity with violating federal labor laws by interfering with and seeking to coerce employees who are “lawfully engaging in their protected rights to collective activity.” Last month, the union organized pickets outside the hospital to protest unfair labor practices that they say discourage nurses from reporting unsafe working conditions.
Two Affinity Medical Center nurses have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the August vote by nurses to unionize was “tainted” and accusing the hospital and the National Nurses Organizing Committee of targeting employees who were opposed to unionization efforts.
Nurses Susan Kelley and Cinda Keener, represented by staff attorneys from the privately funded National Right to Work Foundation, filed a motion Thursday to intervene in a federal case in which Affinity and the NNOC are disputing the results of the August election, according to Anthony Riedel, National Right to Work Foundation spokesman.
The foundation issued a press release regarding the pending litigation Tuesday afternoon.
“Keener and Kelley were among others who were opposed to the unionization. ... These nurses are trying to intervene and say that we agree with Affinity (management) that this election was tainted,” Riedel said. “They’re saying the union shouldn’t be in (place) because the election was tainted.”
Chuck Idelson, spokesman for the national NNOC, said Affinity nurses who voted to unionize will not be “cowed” by the National Right to Work Foundation.
“The claims (the foundation) makes in that release are manufactured, wholly without merit and ludicrous,” Idelson said. “The notion that the company is aiding the nurse’s union is absurd on its face.”
In court papers, the nurses contend that a secret “neutrality” agreement was struck between Affinity and NNOC officials. As a result of the agreement, Keener and Kelley believe that Affinity and the NNOC may have “pre-negotiated” bargaining concessions at the expense of employees. The nurses also allege both parties conducted surveillance of employees and intimidated nurses who were against unionization, likely impacting the outcome of the vote.
Unofficially, 100 employees voted for the union, 96 voted against and seven ballots were challenged, according to a court complaint. Kelley and Keener are seeking to “oppose any order enforcing the certification of the NNOC as their exclusive representative because the union lacks the true and uncoerced support of a majority of employees.”
Michelle Mahon, spokeswoman for the National Nurses Organizing Committee-Ohio, the local union that represents employees, declined to comment. NNOC-Ohio previously filed charges against the NLRB, charging Affinity with violating federal labor laws by interfering with and seeking to coerce employees who are “lawfully engaging in their protected rights to collective activity.” Last month, the union organized pickets outside the hospital to protest unfair labor practices that they say discourage nurses from reporting unsafe working conditions.
