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:

Click here to send a message to Memorial Hospital CEO Frank Dietz.

Hundreds of Memorial Hospital UNAP members have taken a stand against the disrespectful and uncaring attitude that Memorial Hospital administration has shown to employees during negotiations for a new Union contract. 

While Memorial Hospital says it cares about its employees, here are the facts:

 * Memorial Hospital wants to financially penalize employees who don't get their hospital care at Memorial Hospital.

* Memorial Hospital is unwilling to make reasonable efforts to avoid the unsafe practice of mandatory overtime.

* Memorial Hospital refuses to provide health insurance to domestic partners.

* Memorial Hospital insists that employees use vacation time when a relative dies while the employee is on vacation.

UNAP Local 5082 President Bill George is not only a Registered Nurse and former firefighter.  He also is a talented writer, editor, and publisher.  For the past six months, the Local has published a monthly newsletter to keep members up to speed on the latest developments in the Union and in the wokplace.  Over 400 Memorial Hospital RNs and other health professionals receive the Local newsletter.