Labor & Employment Law

NLRB: 31 health care elections will proceed

An NLRB regional director has ordered elections to proceed between two rival unions in 31 health care facilities in northern California.

The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) seeks to displace Service Employees International /United Healthcare Workers-West (SEIU-UHW) at these locations.

[Order]

NLRB press release:

Certain health care facility elections allowed to proceed in California

A National Labor Relations Board Regional Director has ordered elections to proceed between rival unions in about 31 health care facilities in northern California.

The order issued late Monday by Alan B. Reichard of the Oakland office sets the stage for elections between the Service Employees International /United Healthcare Workers-West (SEIU-UHW) and the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), which are competing to represent thousands of health care workers throughout the state. Some elections may be preceded by hearings to clarify the voting group; others will proceed by agreement of the parties regarding such issues as voting dates and times and voter eligibility.

Approximately 32 elections are still blocked by allegations brought by SEIU-UHW against NUHW and its principals. These allegations remain under active consideration by the NLRB?s Office of the General Counsel.

The National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency vested with the power to safeguard employees' rights to organize and to determine whether to have unions as their bargaining representative. The agency also acts to prevent and remedy unfair labor practices committed by private sector employers and unions. The NLRB?s Office of the General Counsel has independent prosecutorial discretion under the National Labor Relations Act to issue complaints alleging such unfair labor practices.

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Full post as published by Ross' Employment Law Blog on March 05, 2010 (boomark / email).