Fremont-Rideout Nurses Issue Strike Notice – Nurses Call on Employer to End Illegal Activities

Nurses at Fremont-Rideout Health Group announced today that they will be holding a one-day strike on Friday, March 21, 2008. On March 5 and March 6, Nurses at Fremont-Rideout Health Group voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in response to the employer's illegal activities.

“We need to send a message to the employer that unfair tactics will not be tolerated,” said Darren Cardoza, RN, a member of the CNA bargaining team.

FRHG RNs struck previously in August and October of 2007 in response to an embedded culture of unsafe practices and management’s unwillingness to bargain with CNA negotiators. In both instances, FRHG brought in replacement workers and locked RNs out of their workplace once the strike ended.

Numerous violations of fair labor practices

FRHG is being prosecuted by the NLRB for numerous unfair and illegal labor practices, including:

Disciplining nurse leaders;
Interrogating and threatening nurses;
Changing terms and conditions of employment without notifying CNA in advance and negotiating over proposed changes;
Enforcing work rules in a discriminatory manner;
Attempting to discourage membership in CNA;
Denying CNA representatives access in the facilities; and
Failing and refusing to bargain in good faith with CNA.

In addition to being found responsible for the offenses listed above, FRHG is being investigated by the NLRB on fresh charges of unlawful changes, discriminatory enforcement of work rules, refusing to bargain in good faith, and disciplining RN leaders.

Hampering nurses’ ability to serve the best interests of the community

“A super-majority of RNs voted in January to reject management's offer, but they still refuse to meet with us and have made unilateral changes that affect working conditions and the ability of nurses to serve the best interests of the community,” said Maureen Bartlett, RN, a member of the CNA bargaining team. “FRHG administration is insisting that CNA ignore the results of the democratic election in January and accept their offer, even though an overwhelming majority of nurses has rejected it. We call on the employer to return to constructive negotiations.”

Nurses will be on strike from 7am Friday, March 21, to 7am Saturday, March 22. CNA represents about 450 FRHG Nurses at Fremont Medical Center, Rideout Memorial Hospital and the Fremont-Rideout Cancer Center.