The United Nurses and Allied Professionals and hospital both filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.
The hospital is accusing the union of bargaining in bad faith, as well as striking over issues not related to current negotiations. It also said the union proposed contract terms after notifying the hospital of a planned strike, “instead of focusing on resolving the established issues.”
UNAP is accusing the hospital’s parent system, Providence-based Lifespan, of retaliating against union members after a three-day strike and subsequent lockout last month. Chris Callaci, UNAP general counsel, told WPRO Lifespan also “unlawfully instituted unilateral and punitive changes to employee terms and conditions of employment.”
The hospital and union returned to the bargaining table Aug. 8 but did not reach a contract agreement. Both sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Aug. 15.
Lifespan spokesperson David Levesque told WPRI the hospital accepted “in full” a union proposal to “create a joint labor/management committee on staffing, equipment and supplies.”
More articles on human capital and risk:
Timeline: The Lifespan-union dispute — Where things stand now
UPMC bans on workers violated law, labor board rules
Rhode Island hospital workers picket before talks with Lifespan
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