Union in Brief – Jul/Aug’10 Voice

July 2010

Chino Valley NLRB Hearing - The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) hearing to address Prime Health Services' objections to our election victory was completed on June 7. Both sides submitted written legal briefs on June 21 and we expect a Board ruling could be issued in late July or early August. In the meantime, we have filed more than a dozen Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against the company, as they have continued their aggressive anti-union campaign since the election.

Parkview Struggles to Remain Independent - Parkview Community Hospital, where we represent 260 nurses, has yet to secure new long-term financing and is under threat of being foreclosed on by Prime Health Services. Parkview has applied for federal HUD financing, which would stabilize its debt situation, but has not yet received final loan approval. UNAC/UHCP and AFSCME have worked closely with Parkview and HUD to move the loan application forward. If Prime Health Services gains ownership of Parkview, it would become the third Prime hospital where we represent Registered Nurses (Garden Grove and Chino Valley).

Garden Grove Kickoff Event - The Garden Grove Registered Nurses Association (GGRNA) held a well-attended negotiations kickoff event on July 9. Members met with their affiliate officers and UNAC/UHCP state officers to discuss negotiations and to complete a bargaining survey. This round of bargaining will be the first time GGRNA has negotiated with the hospital's new owner, Prime Health Services. The Garden Grove contract expires on September 30, 2010.

Sharp Chula Vista Employee of the Year - Carol Granot, RN, Advanced Clinician, has been selected Employee of the Year at the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. Carol, a Sharp Professional Nurses Network (SPNN) member since 1998, works on the 4 East Med/Surg/Oncology Unit and serves on the local RNAC. We congratulate Carol on this outstanding achievement.