Maine Nurses File Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Area Hospital

• Nurses in Maine recently filed an unfair labor practice charge against Northern Maine Medical Center. 
• The nurses picketed in late October hoping to move discussions along. 
• The filing came days after nurses voiced concern about the closure of a child psychiatric unit. 

Nurses in Maine recently filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge against Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) as they struggle to come to terms on a new contract.

“We wanted to start bargaining in March, but management didn’t agree to meet until April,” Ami Maxwell, RN in NMMC’s emergency department and union bargaining team member, said in a National Nurses United news release. “We should be getting close to a deal by now. But management is just dragging its feet.”

The union filed the ULP charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Oct. 24, days after speaking out about NMMC closing its child adolescent psychiatric unit. 

Unfair Labor Practice Charge with NLRB

In the NLRB filing, the Maine State Nurses Association alleged that NMMC has refused to bargain or participated in bad faith bargaining. 

The practitioners said in the NNU release that NMMC officials have only met with them a dozen times over the course of eight months — and even then, only virtually. 

NMMC has one other ULP case open against it, also filed by the MSNA, from March that alleges:

• Refusal to Bargain/Bad Faith Bargaining (including surface bargaining/direct dealing). 
• Discharge (Including layoff and refusal to hire (not salting)). 
• Concerted activities (retaliation, discharge, discipline). 

A hospital representative said in a statement to News Center Maine that the nurses are an important and “integral part of our success and the quality care we provide to our patients.” 

Nurses picketed in late October, hoping to speed up negotiations, according to News Center Maine. Brad Martinez, who’s on the union’s bargaining team, told the local media outlet that they would like to improve staffing ratios once a contract is agreed upon.

NMMC nurses voted at the beginning of the year to join the MSNA, with more than 60% in favor of unionizing.

“We formed our union to better serve our community, for more transparency from our hospital and to hold our employer accountable to its own stated values,” Martinez said during the October picket. “But from the very beginning of our organizing campaign, through our successful vote for the union and now in contract bargaining, NMMC continues to show us the same disrespect they always have. We’re here today to show our employer, and our community, that we won’t give up this fight because there’s just too much at stake for us and for our patients.”

The union represents 90 nurses at the facility. 

How Can I File an Unfair Labor Practice Charge?

Nurses who believe an unfair labor practice has been committed at their institution must file within six months of the alleged violation, according to the U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).

The filing must include a statement of facts and allegations, including the date and location of the event and the people involved.

The FLRA also suggests that filers: 

• Contact potential witnesses and prepare a witness list. 
• Gather relevant supporting documents.   
• Prepare a timeline of events.  
• Prepare to discuss the remedy that you’re seeking and how to resolve the charge. 

For more information, visit the FLRA website.

The Bottom Line

Nurses at Northern Maine Medical Center recently filed an unfair labor practice charge against their employer. The filing alleges that the health system has refused to bargain or participated in bad faith bargaining. Practitioners recently picketed in hopes of speeding up the contract negotiation process, but little progress has been made as of this publication. Ninety nurses at the facility are represented by the Maine State Nurses Association.  

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