Oregon Public Broadcasting

The National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint against Legacy Emanuel Hospitals, for allegedly stopping nurses from trying to unionize in non-working areas of the hospital.  Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Organizers have been trying to unionize about 3000 nurses at Legacy’s five Portland area sites for years. But nurse Linda Bowley says the company has taken all kinds of illegal steps to stop them – from banning the distribution of leaflets in certain areas, to calling the police.

Linda Bowley: “For example another nurse and myself had gone to a break room one evening when we were off work and attempted to talk to nurses on their break and when we entered the break room the charge nurse would come in and threaten us with having us removed and that we’re not supposed to be there.”

Legacy says it hasn’t violated the rights of its employees.

A Portland hearing before the National Labor Relations Board has been scheduled for later this month.