Pingree, Kelly Call Out Reports of Illegal Union-Busting at Prime Healthcare

U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) are leading a group of their Democratic colleagues in demanding that Prime Healthcare end alleged intimidation and retaliation against nurses engaged in protected union activity at its hospitals in Maine, Illinois, and Nevada. In a letter to Prime Healthcare Chairman and CEO Dr. Prem Reddy, the lawmakers cite reports of dozens of nurses being suspended or fired, police being called on nurses and organizers lawfully distributing information outside a hospital, and hospital-branded materials urging employees to vote against union representation.

The letter comes as nurses at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine; Olympia Fields Hospital in Olympia Fields, Illinois; and Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois, seek representation through the National Nurses Organizing Committee. At Central Maine Medical Center alone, Prime Healthcare has suspended or fired 20 nurses during the organizing campaign-actions the nurses and the union allege are retaliation for advocating for safer staffing, adequate resources, and improved patient care.

"Registered nurses at these Prime facilities are fighting to ensure they can provide the very best care to the communities they serve, including concerns about cuts to vital services that patients rely on. As you are aware, just last year, Senators Duckworth and Durbin contacted you about reversing Prime's decision to reduce services in several newly acquired hospitals across Illinois," the lawmakers wrote. "We remain deeply concerned about warnings from these workers that recent changes to services and designations will impact standards and delivery of care in our communities."

The lawmakers also highlight alleged retaliation at other Prime Healthcare facilities, including the firing of six nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago ahead of a June union election and two nurses at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. They are urging Prime Healthcare to comply fully with the National Labor Relations Act, allow employees to decide freely whether to unionize, and negotiate in good faith with workers who choose union representation.

"All workers should have the free choice to join a union, should they choose to form one, without interference or intimidation," they said. "[...] We will continue to monitor Prime Healthcare's actions closely and, should nurses at those facilities form a union, expect you to negotiate a fair contract in good faith with workers in accordance with the law."

Joining Pingree and Kelly on the letter are: Reps. Gilbert Cisneros (D-Calif.), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-Ill.), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

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Dear Dr. Reddy,

We write regarding registered nurses' ongoing efforts to organize a union at three Prime Healthcare hospitals and to express concern over alleged illegal anti-union activities. We have received deeply troubling reports from our constituents and organizers that Prime Health is unlawfully intimidating and retaliating against workers involved in union organizing activity.

As you know, workers have a right to organize free from intimidation or coercion as well as engage in protected concerted activity under Sections 7 and 8 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). We remain committed to ensuring that workers' rights are respected in accordance with relevant federal and state laws.

Since the registered nurses at Central Maine Medical Center, Olympia Fields Hospital, and Saint Francis Hospital filed election petitions with the National Labor Relations Board to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), we have been informed that nurses have experienced various attempts to stop or interfere with their organizing. These efforts have included calling the police on nurses and organizers exercising their lawful right to table outside of the hospital and posting flyers with the hospital logo urging nurses to consider voting no during the NLRB election.

Additionally, multiple nurses engaging in protected activity were suspended, some of whom were then fired, after speaking out about raising patient care concerns within the hospital, including calling attention to dangerously understaffed units. At Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) in Lewiston, Maine, at least 20 nurses have been suspended or fired in seemingly direct retaliation for their protected union organizing activity. At Olympia Fields Hospital, six nurses have also been suspended.

As you know, workers have a right to organize free from intimidation or coercion as well as engage in protected concerted activity under Sections 7 and 8 of the NLRA. We remain committed to ensuring that workers' rights are respected in accordance with relevant federal and state laws. All workers should have the free choice to join a union, should they choose to form one, without interference or intimidation. Therefore, we strongly urge Prime Healthcare to refrain from engaging in intimidation, retaliation, or other forms of illegal interference, including illegal terminations, in accordance with the NLRA, to provide workers the opportunity to decide on their own whether they should join a union.

We will continue to monitor Prime Healthcare's actions closely and, should nurses at those facilities form a union, expect you to negotiate a fair contract in good faith with workers in accordance with the law.

Sincerely,