Saint Agnes hit with labor complaint

http://www.fresnobee.com/business/story/478432.html

By Tracy Correa / The Fresno Bee
03/21/08 23:01:30

The National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint against Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno after investigating allegations of unfair labor practices that targeted nurses attempting to unionize.

The notice from the labor board's regional office in Oakland -- issued Thursday -- calls for a hearing before an administrative law judge June 3 in Fresno.

A representative with the California Nurses Association, which has been trying to unionize the Catholic-affiliated hospital's 900 nurses, said the complaint validates its contention that the hospital has illegally harassed and intimidated nurses.

"It confirms what we have been saying all along -- they have been wasting precious patient-care dollars on a concerted effort to silence the nurses," said Don Nielsen, Valley representative for the nurses association.

An attorney for the hospital disagreed.

"There has been no finding of any wrongdoing by Saint Agnes Medical Center," said Roger King, labor counsel for the hospital. "That's what the proceeding will be designed to address."

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