For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 02, 1997
NLRB Hits Columbia/HCA with Another Sharp Blow; Hospital Chain Ordered to Bargain with Union
Washington —In another major setback for Columbia/ HCA, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain, engaged in illegal and unfair labor practices in a union election launched by registered nurses at the company's flagship hospital, Columbia Audobon in Louisville, Kentucky.
The ruling comes at a time when Columbia/HCA is drawing considerable unfavorable attention for its business practices, including its efforts to acquire non-profit hospitals.
Nurses at Audubon, who are members of the Nurses Professional Organization (NPO), an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, charged that Columbia waged an illegal anti-union campaign, threatening reprisals against nurses who voted in favor of the union, and announcing last-minute wage and benefit improvements before the election. The Board agreed that Columbia: waged an illegal anti-union campaign; threatened reprisals in the event nurses were to vote for the union; and announced last-minute wage and benefit improvements before the election.
AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee today said that the NLRB makes it clear that "union-busting tactics by huge corporations will not be tolerated. Huge corporations like Columbia/HCA think that by intimidating workers, they will guarantee a union-free environment. The NLRB ruling makes it clear that the companies cannot use illegal and unfair tactics during union elections. The intimidation that the nurses from Audubon had to put up with was unbelievable. The action from the NLRB helps guarantee that other workers won't have to put up with the same intimidation tactics."
NPO President Patty Clark, a registered nurse who works in a surgical unit at Audubon, said, "It has been a long, hard battle, but nurses have stood together and continued to fight against this corporate giant. This is a victory for our entire community and for the right of all patients to quality care. Safe staffing and quality patient care will be in the center of NPO's bargaining agenda. Because NPO nurses have continued to speak out against Columbia's staffing cuts, our community is aware of the problems. We believe the community and other unions will assist us now in making Columbia bargain. Nurses across Louisville at all Columbia hospitals are joining in the celebration of this wonderful victory."
The ALJ ruling ordered Columbia/HCA to bargain with the nurses' union concerning terms and conditions of employment — action Columbia/HCA has steadfastly avoided. The NLRB also has ordered that Columbia be required to rescind its total overhaul of Audubon nurse positions and their duties, which accelerated in December 1995.
