Hopkins interference in union effort is found by labor board

The National Labor Relations Board has found further evidence Johns Hopkins officials are restricting the rights of nurses trying to unionize.

This is the third time the labor board has found merit to such allegations since the National Nurses Organizing Committee filed a complaint in June, after the unionization effort began. Most recently, the labor board found there was merit to complaints that Hopkins officials created the impression they were surveilling unionization activity, which nurses said could have a chilling effect.

The nurses previously alleged that Hopkins officials barred nurses’ access to break rooms to discuss unionization and stopped nurses from talking about the union at work while allowing other nonwork conversations.

If Hopkins does not agree to a settlement, the labor board could issue a formal complaint against the hospital.

“We urge the hospital to live up to its own reputation by supporting nurses in our right to become even better patient advocates by forming a union,” said Janet Orlin, a nurse who cares for cancer patients, in a statement.

The nurses who are organizing say they began pushing for a union because they were overworked and underpaid, and high turnover has created a shortage that puts patients at risk.

A Hopkins spokeswoman rebutted the nurses’ claims and reiterated their support for the professionals and their right to unionize.

“We deeply respect our nurses, their contributions to our organization, and all of their rights as employees including their right to support or oppose a union,” said Kim Hoppe, in a statement.

“These preliminary decisions by the local National Labor Relations office were an expected part of the process, and simply allow the claims to move to the next step,” she said.