A New Mexico judge has agreed with a state labor board, finding that University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center in Rio Rancho violated a union’s right to bargain over a proposed 2023 layoff, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported June 12.
The June 10 order from Second Judicial District Court Judge Elaine Lujan affirms the Public Employee Labor Relations Board’s February 2024 ruling in response to a complaint filed by the United Health Professionals of New Mexico in May 2023.
According to court documents, the complaint alleged that the hospital violated multiple provisions of the state’s Public Employee Bargaining Act by failing to bargain over a layoff or reduction in force and unilaterally assigning additional duties to unionized employees in the hospital’s post-anesthesia care unit. The union also contended hospital management refused to negotiate over changes to wages and working conditions.
A hearing officer ruled in favor of the union in December 2023, and the board concluded that the hospital had breached its duty to bargain by refusing to negotiate after a demand was made, failed to provide requested information, and unilaterally changed union members’ job duties. The hospital appealed the decision.
Ms. Lujan found “no basis for reversal,” stating that the board’s order “is not contrary to law.”
The union called the court’s decision a “major legal victory,” with UHPNM President Regina McGinnis, PT, stating in a Facebook post, “This ruling should shut the door on the hospital’s campaign to silence workers.”
Chris Ramirez, UNM Health Sciences Center and UNM Health System director of communications, shared the following statement with Becker’s:
“UNM Hospital respects the recent decision from the district court regarding a complaint from 2023. Since acquiring UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center in 2024, UNM Hospital has bargained with and entered into collective bargaining agreements with two labor organizations, including most recently UHPNM. UNM Hospital is committed to working with its labor partners to ensure that it fulfills its mandate to the community by providing high-quality patient care. UNM Hospital looks forward to continuing this dialogue with its labor partners.”
Sandoval Regional Medical Center joined UNM Hospitals on Jan. 1, 2024, and changed its name to University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center-A Campus of UNM Hospital. Both facilities are part of Albuquerque-based University of New Mexico Health System, but were operating under separate licenses.
