Hennepin County is trying to overturn the Minnesota Nurses Association's organizing victory at Hennepin County Medical Center.
County Labor Relations Director Bill Peters filed a challenge with the state Bureau of Mediation Services on Dec. 14, alleging fraudulent signatures and coercive behavior by union supporters. The challenge came just nine days after BMS certified, through a card-count process, that a narrow majority of the 1,016 eligible registered nurses at HCMC signed cards selecting MNA as their bargaining agent.
MNA says the charges are without merit and that the attempt to overturn the certification should be dismissed.
"We haven't decided what to do," said Josh Tilsen, director of the representation unit at BMS. Options include conducting an investigation, scheduling a hearing, or dismissing the challenge. "We rarely get appeals on card checks," he said.
In the meantime, BMS asked the county to submit evidence by Jan. 12 supporting its allegations. Tilsen said BMS would not make a decision until at least Jan. 15.
Walt Fredrickson, labor relations director for MNA, said he hopes to resolve the dispute without a public showdown.
Union opponents launch petition
Under the card-check process, Hennepin County agreed not to actively oppose the union's organizing drive and to recognize MNA if a majority of HCMC nurses signed a union authorization card. MNA won the card count by a margin of just five cards, according to results that BMS certified on Dec. 5.
After the certification, Peters said, "We received a petition from approximately 300 nurses" raising complaints about the card-count process.
"No one's saying the allegations or concerns are facts," Peters said. But, he added, "If people feel the process was tainted in any way, it casts doubt on the majority status."
In the union's formal response to the county's challenge, MNA staff attorney Phillip Finkelstein said, "The fact that many people may be upset or disappointed in the final result should not change the final outcome."
Finkelstein argues that Hennepin County "makes serious allegations with no notice or documentation to back them up." He says the county should have raised its objections under the terms of the card-check agreement, not after the fact. He also raises his own concerns about tactics used to gather signatures on the petition questioning the card count, including reports that supervisors helped circulate it.
Compiled from reports by Minneapolis Labor Review editor Steve Share and Union Advocate editor Michael Kuchta.
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Hennepin County is trying to overturn the Minnesota Nurses Association’s organizing victory at Hennepin County Medical Center.
County Labor Relations Director Bill Peters filed a challenge with the state Bureau of Mediation Services on Dec. 14, alleging fraudulent signatures and coercive behavior by union supporters. The challenge came just nine days after BMS certified, through a card-count process, that a narrow majority of the 1,016 eligible registered nurses at HCMC signed cards selecting MNA as their bargaining agent.
MNA says the charges are without merit and that the attempt to overturn the certification should be dismissed.
“We haven’t decided what to do,” said Josh Tilsen, director of the representation unit at BMS. Options include conducting an investigation, scheduling a hearing, or dismissing the challenge. “We rarely get appeals on card checks,” he said.
In the meantime, BMS asked the county to submit evidence by Jan. 12 supporting its allegations. Tilsen said BMS would not make a decision until at least Jan. 15.
Walt Fredrickson, labor relations director for MNA, said he hopes to resolve the dispute without a public showdown.
Union opponents launch petition
Under the card-check process, Hennepin County agreed not to actively oppose the union’s organizing drive and to recognize MNA if a majority of HCMC nurses signed a union authorization card. MNA won the card count by a margin of just five cards, according to results that BMS certified on Dec. 5.
After the certification, Peters said, “We received a petition from approximately 300 nurses” raising complaints about the card-count process.
“No one’s saying the allegations or concerns are facts,” Peters said. But, he added, “If people feel the process was tainted in any way, it casts doubt on the majority status.”
In the union’s formal response to the county’s challenge, MNA staff attorney Phillip Finkelstein said, “The fact that many people may be upset or disappointed in the final result should not change the final outcome.”
Finkelstein argues that Hennepin County “makes serious allegations with no notice or documentation to back them up.” He says the county should have raised its objections under the terms of the card-check agreement, not after the fact. He also raises his own concerns about tactics used to gather signatures on the petition questioning the card count, including reports that supervisors helped circulate it.
Compiled from reports by Minneapolis Labor Review editor Steve Share and Union Advocate editor Michael Kuchta.