SEIU Rallies to Support Sweet Brook Workers
  Local 1199SEIU President Michael O'Brien addresses union members at Freeman Park on Monday. Left, a message to Northern Berkshire Healthcare's CEO. |
The union members say Northern Berkshire Healthcare is placing obstacles in the way of employees trying to unionize at the Sweet Brook Care Centers nursing home, one of its subsidiaries. SEIU also represents the licensed practical nurses and other health-care workers at North Adams Regional Hospital.
Joining hospital and Sweet Brook workers was a good-sized contingent from SEIU in Boston and Albany, N.Y., IUE members from the former General Electric, professors from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, members of the North Adams Teachers Associaton, and students from Williams College, among others.
The group of around 60 stood in a circle at Freeman Park, chanting and banging blow-up batons in the chilly air as speakers ranging from SEIU state leaders to relatives of Sweet Brook residents to local teachers pumped them up.
"We had to witness our employer spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on union-busting consultants. What's that all about?" said an "angry" Lisa Marie Pisano, a worker at NARH. "What are the priorities of this administration? I for one have had enough of CEO's memos talking about people negatively affected by NBH employees standing up for themselves and our patients. That's what we care about."
SEIU has accused the health-care system of spending tens of thousands on legal counsel to block the participation of some 30 nursing staff at the Williamstown nursing home. NBH officials say those the workers are in supervisory capacities and thus do not qualify for union membership. The National Labor Board's Region 1 found against NBH last week but the health care system is appealing the ruling to the national board in Washington.
The election on whether to organize at Sweet Brook is scheduled for March 26.
"The leaders of Sweet Brook Transitional Care and Living Centers and Northern Berkshire Healthcare remain committed to ensuring that Sweet Brook employees are fully informed as they vote in the election that will determine if 1199SEIU will represent them," said Diane Cutillo, NBH vice president of external affairs, in a statement Monday.
In response to accusations of loose spending by NBH, Cutillo said SEIU "spends dues collected from members to employ full-time union organizers and attorneys.
The hospital has been trying to close a $4.5 million budget gap for the coming year but its attempts to save costs by renegotiating contracts has been rebuffed by its two unions, SEIU and the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Northern Berkshire Healthcare President and CEO Richard Palmisano has said the failure to renegotiate so-called "legacy" benefits forced the hospital to layoff or reduce the hours of employees.
Local 1199SEIU President Michael O'Brien said the hospital rejected an offer by SEIU to help save costs. "We're not trying to pick a fight but [Palmisano] started it by telling the prss that we didn't accept his offer ... he threw down the gauntlet, we're just following up on it."
