| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 19, 2001 |
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St. Alexius Charged with Illegal Retaliation Against Nurses St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota is facing charges by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for illegal retaliation against two nurses. Suzette McCall, a RN on the hospital's nursing SWAT team, faced an illegal suspension and job reassignment while Deb Stavn, a RN in the Recovery Room, was illegally threatened for their support of the nurses effort to gain a voice on the job with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1116. The UFCW filed charges with the Labor Board on behalf of the two nurses nearly one year ago. After investigating the nurses' allegations, the NLRB today found merit to the UFCW charges leveled against St. Alexius, one legal step away from full vindication for the hospital's actions against the union supporters. The hospital now has the opportunity to either reach a settlement with the two nurses or it can attempt to defend itself during a public hearing. The UFCW filed charges after St. Alexius administrators Wanda Pfaff, Director of Human Resources and Kathy Seidel, Director of Nursing Resource Unit, suspended Suzette McCall for three days, then transferred her out of her normal position to a less-desirable assignment. The Board also found merit to charges that the hospital administration issued McCall "an evaluation containing inaccurate, baseless and discriminatory statements in retaliation for her protected, concerted, and union activity." "Wanda and Kathy tried to silence me by suspending me and removing me from my position as a SWAT nurse. I was retaliated against because I was a vocal supporter of our need for a voice on the job for better patient care. I'm looking forward to the a public hearing in which the hospital's union busting tactics will be exposed," said Suzette McCall. Elaine Mather, Assistant Director of Human Resources, and Myrna Spoon, former Director of Surgical Services, provoked further charges for threatening retaliation against RN Deb Stavn for her union support. Deb had shared a letter with her co-workers and appeared at a workers' rights forum about the hospital's union busting tactics. The Board also found merit to charges that the hospital used a bogus grievance committee and solicited complaints from nurses in an effort to sway the outcome of the union election. Such false promises of improved working conditions are illegal forms of intimidation and coercion during a union organizing drive. "No matter how long it takes, the UFCW is committed to fighting for justice for the nurses at St. Alexius. We will fight to win justice and to help nurses organize for a voice on the job, if they so desire," said Lane Harstad, President of UFCW Local 1116. Registered nurses at St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota fought a long battle for the chance to vote in the first union election in the facility's history. All but seven of the eligible 414 nurses voted in the April 28, 2000 election, with 182 nurses voting "Union Yes" while 212 rejected union representation on the job. Thirteen ballots were challenged. Nurses received an outpouring of support for their efforts from the community. Over 300 elected officials, religious leaders, community members and labor organizations signed on to a full-page ad showing their support and encouragement for the nurses fighting to get a union at their hospital. The UFCW represents more than 100,000 caregivers nationwide. The union is committed to protecting health care workers' right to a voice on the job. United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW): A Voice for Working America-www.ufcw.org |
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