MAKE IT OUR UPMC FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UPMC WORKERS WIN MAJOR LEGAL DECISION Labor Board Administrative Law Judge Issues Decision Finding Vast Violations of Workers’ Rights, 12 pm Monday: Council Members, community supporters to celebrate with vindicated workers and demand PITTSBURGH – In an unprecedented 123-page decision issued late on Friday, a National Labor Relations Administrative Law Judge found UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside is responsible for widespread violations of workers’ rights. The judge is ordering the UPMC hospital to reinstate four workers in the next 14 days and pay them lost wages for the period they were out of work; remove all unlawful disciplinary actions from workers’ records and inform all service workers at the hospital of the vast violations of workers rights. I find that [UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside] has engaged in such egregious and widespread misconduct so as to demonstrate a general disregard for employees’ statutory rights, the judge wrote in his decision. The decision comes a week after UPMC workers announced that they were rejecting a significant settlement offer from UPMC because they believed that the judge’s decision would condemn the flagrant ill treatment of pro-union workers at UPMC hospitals. “UPMC is the largest employer in town with a terrible record for violating workers’ rights – two things that should not go hand in hand,” said Jim Staus, who worked at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for over seven years before being fired for supporting the union. Staus was recently featured in a short film by award-winning local filmmaker Phinheas Hodges. This is an important victory for me and for all my coworkers at UPMC hospitals across the city. We stood our ground and proved that UPMC has been breaking the law. Now we need UPMC to stop the legal maneuvers and make a real commitment to stop violating workers rights and to let us form our union without illegal harassment or intimidation. This is not the first time UPMC has faced allegations of workers’ rights violations. Currently, there is another complaint and several additional labor charges pending against UPMC and a number of its facilities, and in 2013, UPMC chose to settle a complaint listing over 80 alleged violations of federal labor law by agreeing to reinstate workers, provide back pay, expunge disciplinary records, and train managers on respect for workers’ rights. The employees of UPMC have a right to form a union without retaliation and harassment,” said Council Member Natalia Rudiak. Rudiak has been outspoken in support of UPMC workers and in October 2013 introduced and passed a proclamation on Council’s support of their efforts. “As the largest employer in Pittsburgh, UPMC has a responsibility to protect that right. I stand firmly with community leaders, workers, and residents of this city in saying our resolve to hold UPMC accountable as an employer has never been stronger. “Rather than creating jobs that lift workers out of poverty, UPMC punishes workers trying to form a union,” said Jack Shea, President of the Allegheny County Labor Council. “UPMC executives spend exhorbitant amounts on legal maneuvers to deny fair treatment to workers, going so far as to support the Reinstating Four Fired Workers with Back Pay UPMC end its illegal treatment of workers National Right to Work Foundation. This is despicable behaviour and must end now. No other hospital workers should be subjected to illegal firing and intimidation.” Council Member Rudiak will hold a press conference at 12 pm Monday to congratulate UPMC workers in person and to demand UPMC allow workers the opportunity to form their union without fear and intimidation by management and executives. Make It Our UPMC unites UPMC employees, community leaders and Pittsburghers together to demand that UPMC help rebuild the middle class by making sure every UPMC worker earns a living wage, promote a healthier community by ensuring everyone’s access to quality affordable health care, and revitalize our community by contributing its fair share to the public services we need. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jessica Durkin, 323-377-9240, [email protected] Giovanna Frank-Vitale, 610-207-9167, Giovanna.vitale@berlinrosen ### MakeItOurUPMC.org
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 18:17:10 +0000
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