Region 22 Issues an Order Consolidating Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of Hearing Against Jersey City Medical Center

Region 22 Director J. Michael Lightner issued an Order Consolidating Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of Hearing against Jersey City Medical Center on January 31, 2014.  The charges in the matter were filed by AFSCME Council 52, Local 3680 and Local 2254.  The Consolidated Complaint alleges that the Employer, Jersey City Medical Center, bypassed the Union and dealt directly with employees in the Local 2254 bargaining unit, failed to deduct union dues from Local 2254 and Local 3680 Unit employees' paychecks, and it distributed new union dues checkoff authorization forms for Local 2254 and Local 3680 Unit employees to sign.  The Consolidated Complaint further alleges the Employer implemented its final contract offer without having reached agreement with Local 2254 or Local 3680 and in the absence of a valid bargaining impasse.  The Employer is alleged to have suspended, transferred and discharged several employees because they assisted the Union and engaged in protected, concerted activities.  Additionally, the Employer is alleged to have provided more than ministerial assistance to employees in helping them decertify the Union, polled employees by asking them in a secret ballot election if they wanted to be represented by Local 2254 for purposes of collective bargaining and thereafter informed Local 2254 that it was withdrawing recognition from Local 2254.  The above-described alleged violations of Sections 8(a)(1), (3) and (5) of the National Labor Relations Act are scheduled for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge on March 19, 2014 at the Region 22 office in Newark, New Jersey.