In a recent strongly worded decision, the National Labor Relations Board has found Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island guilty of threatening and disciplining employees for wearing buttons and stickers to protest the hospital's positions on issues such as mandatory overtime and medical insurance benefits.  In addition, Judge Wallace Nations found that Memorial Hospital illegally interrogated employees on the issue of whether or not they would cross a picket line in the event of a strike. 

With respect to Memorial Hospital's attempt to ban Union members from wearing Union buttons and stickers, the Judge wrote:

"The purpose of the ban and the discipline issued for violating the ban was not founded in any concern for patients' feelings, but rather, from management frustration over the progress of contract negotiations and was an attempt to punish the union."

The Judge also criticized hospital president Frank Dietz for issuing a dishonest press release that was calculated to mislead the public:

"This press release appears to me to be trying to create an issue around the button to garner public support for the Hospital's bargaining positions.  It is also patently untrue.  The button is clearly not inflammatory and there was no showing of any stress caused by the button on the part of any patient or family member."

In response to the decision by the National Labor Relations Board, the UNAP issued the following statement:

"It is a disgrace that hospital management broke the law just to prevent union members from speaking out against the unsafe practice of mandatory overtime.  Frank Dietz and hospital management owe our members and the entire community an apology for breaking the law and putting patients and the staff at risk."

CLICK HERE to read Pawtucket Times / Woonsocket Call article.
CLICK HERE to read Providence Journal article.