Gracedale nurses union files labor complaint against Northampton County over health care hike
Source: Lehigh Valley
By Tom Shortell
Some Northampton County employees are fighting back after Executive John Brown unilaterally hiked their health care costs, saying his administration has committed unfair labor practices.
The United Steelworkers Local 2599, which represents about 55 nurses at Gracedale, filed a complaint Thursday with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Union employees have worked without a collective bargaining agreement since Dec. 31, 2010, the complaint states, and county officials have stalled negotiations. The union has tried to start talk for a new contract, but the county only agreed to sit down when it wants union concessions, according to the complaint.
In November, the union met with Deputy Director of Administration Cathy Allen, who said the county would install a new, less favorable health care plan in 2015 even if the union objected. The Steelworkers claim they have been operating under the terms of the 2010 collective bargaining agreement, which does not allow the county to install the new plan without negotiating with the union.
A call for comment Thursday night to Jerry Green, president of Local 2599, was not immediately returned. The union is asking the state board to intervene on its behalf.
FULL story at link.
Northampton County's Gracedale nursing home in Upper Nazareth Township. (Sue Beyer | Lehighvalleylive.com File Photo)
Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/northampton-county/index.ssf/2014/12/gracedale_nurses_union_file_la.html