By CHRIS SHORES, Recorder Staff
(Published in print: Tuesday, July 9, 2013
GREENFIELD — The National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint based on two unfair labor practices charges filed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association against Baystate Franklin Medical Center.
In the charges, the union alleges that the hospital did not respond to an information request during negotiations and that administrators told employees not to speak of union activities in the hospital’s hallways, nurse’s stations and the cafeteria. The complaint means that the labor relations board will interview both sides and investigate the charges further at an Oct. 2 hearing.
“We have had (unfair labor practice hearings) in the past … and we have more times than not come out on top,” said hospital President Chuck Gijanto. “We are very confident in our position on these.”
At the heart of one of the charges is the debate over overtime pay, which has divided nurses and hospital administrators since contract talks began in October 2011.
The hospital wants to change to a weekly model where nurses get time-and-a-half pay after working 40 hours. Nurses want the daily model to continue, in which they would receive bonus pay for any hours beyond their regular shift.
For more, visit http://www.recorder.com/home/7380333-95/hospital-faces-labor-complaint-in-contract-talks
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