NLRB Chimes in on Hospital/Nurse Battle
Kalamazoo, MICH. (Newschannel 3) - Borgess Hospital is in the crosshairs for allegedly violating federal labor law and unfair labor practices.
The National Labor Relations Board announced today that absent a voluntary settlement it will issue a formal Complaint charging that Borgess Medical Center (BMC) has violated federal labor law and committed several serious unfair labor practice violations against the more than 700 professional registered nurses of the Borgess Staff Nurse Council.
Borgess and its nurses have spent the past few months in the spotlight over stalled negotiations with the 700+ nurses that staff the medical center.
The unfair labor practice charges were filed by the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA), the state union representing Borgess nurses in contract negotiations with the hospital.
MNA’s charges alleged that Borgess has been bargaining in bad faith, and that Borgess has engaged in numerous acts of interference, restraint and discrimination against nurses in violation of federal law.
The nurses have continued to care for hospital patients since March 19, 2010 when their contract at BMC expired.
Shahin Motakef, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Borgess says he’s familiar with the complaints and says the NLRB dismissed the majority of them.
In a statement Motakef said; “Borgess welcomes the opportunity for a full hearing on the facts.” He also said, “We look forward to presenting hard evidence to demonstrate that our conduct has always been commensurate with out values, and is completely appropriate and lawful.”
