KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Michigan Nurses Association has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board charging Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo with anti-union activities.
The charges say the hospital retaliated against what the union called “protected union activity.”
The union claims the hospital “restricted the right of bargaining unit employees to wear union logo badge pulls, scrub tops, or other union branded material and told nurses “they may not utilize employee locker rooms to discuss union activity even on non-work time.”
The union stated today that it would file similar claims with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The union added that it is operating under an extension of a contract set to expire this month and has been in negotiations for over a year.
Ascension Borgess Hospital provided FOX 17 with the following statement:
"We are extremely proud of the work our nurses do each day to care for our community and remain committed to working diligently and in good faith toward reaching a new collective bargaining agreement. Consistent with the Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives, we respect our nurses’ right to organize themselves through union representation. We will always hold the health and safety of our patients, associates, providers and visitors as our top priority, following all Joint Commission and CDC quality and safety guidelines, and will address these allegations through the appropriate processes and channels. We are focused on continuing to collaborate with the Michigan Nurses Association and remain optimistic we will reach a mutually beneficial agreement that supports all."
