WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A federal agency has filed a formal complaint against Northern Berkshire Healthcare citing 13 different instances of federal labor-law violation in relation to alleged anti-union activities at Sweet Brook Care Centers.
Sweet Brook is a subsidiary of Northern Berkshire Healthcare, which also operates North Adams Regional Hospital. Many hospital workers are represented by 1199 SEIU; workers at Sweet Brook were to hold a vote on whether to join SEIU.
The complaint from the National Labor Relations Board accuses Sweet Brook management of engaging in surveillance of employees, coercion and intimidation, as well as interfering with and restraining the rights of caregivers at Sweet Brook.
"This has always been about protecting the quality of care we provide for our residents," said Sweet Brook certified nursing assistant Annette Tatro. "We should be allowed do our jobs at Sweet Brook without being harassed or threatened by management. I’m relived that the NLRB is taking steps to stop the outrageous behavior of management at Sweet Brook."
The decision by the NLRB favoring the workers at Sweet Brook directly addresses the aggressive internal campaign of intimidation that union officials say was waged by Sweet Brook and NBH officials in an effort to convince employees to give up their goals of improving resident care and jobs at the home through forming a union.
The complaint issued by the NLRB sets the date for a hearing on the matter to take place on July 14, 2009 in Boston.
Sweet Brook workers estimate that under the direction of Palmisano, NBH has now wasted more than $100,000 in taxpayer and patient care funds on costly out-of-state anti-union consultants, as well as executive junkets and discretionary legal fees.
"The conduct of the management and supervisors at Sweet Brook has been atrocious," said Mike Fadel, executive vice president of 1199SEIU. "But what is even more shocking is inaction on the part of the Board of Northern Berkshire Healthcare. Allowing this conduct to continue is simply irresponsible and in direct conflict with their fiduciary responsibilities as stewards of this health care organization."
