Nurses at the William W. Backus Hospital in Connecticut recently filed for a
union election with U.S. authorities, having gone to President and CEO David
Whitehead?s office in search of recognition for the new union.
According to AFT Connecticut, which is the union that intends to organize the
450 plus nurses at Backus Hospital, hundreds of signed union cards were
delivered to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). AFT Connecticut has
reported that a vote could beheld in as soon as 35 days. However, it is likely
that management will seek a delay.
Last month, dozens of nurse marched to Whitehead?s office to deliver a letter
with 28 signatures that asked him to recognize the union without a vote.
Whitehead ?respectfully declined? the nurses? request, commenting that all
nurses should have an opportunity to express their views in a ?free and fair
vote.?
?These AFT-backed nurses asked the hospital to waive your right to vote in a
secret-ballot election,? Whitehead wrote in a March 21 letter. ?We have no
intention of denying you this right.?
John Cotter, an administrator in the NLRB?s Hartford office, announced that a
hearing has been set for April 7, subject to change. He confirmed that the union
filed the election petition, but would not comment on the number of employees
who support the measure.
Backus Hospital clinical coordinators and directors are required to meet with
representatives of the multistate law firm Jackson Lewis LLP, according to a
memo from Backus Vice President of Human Resources Theresa Buss.
Buss? memo made waves in the community, especially after AFT Connecticut
circulated a copy, spotlighting a troubling section requiring the meetings as
?part of our commitment to remain union-free.?
Eric Bailey, an AFT spokesman, also spoke out, calling Jackson Lewis ?the
biggest union-busting law firm on the East Coast.?
?Their [administrators?] actions indicate their true intentions are to delay and
interfere,? nurse Angela Shirey said in the union?s press release. ?We will
continue to encourage management to remain neutral, respect the will of the
majority and move forward in a cooperative manner.?
Backus Hospital is Norwich?s largest non-government employer, and Eastern
Connecticut?s second largest hospital. The 116 year old hospital has mostly been
operated without unions, receiving its first union only last year.
AFT, with about 28,000 Connecticut members, has nursing locals at Lawrence &
Memorial Hospital in New London and Windham Hospital in Willimantic.
Neither hospital spokesman Shawn Mawhiney nor a Jackson Lewis spokeswoman had
immediate comments regarding the nurses union.