Company Ordered to Bargain in Good Faith; Make $300,000 Back-pay Settlement

The United Steelworkers (USW) today lauded the proposed consent order entered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson, Ky. The USW has been working for 13 years to negotiate a first contract with Jackson Hospital Corporation facility.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found the hospital in civil contempt for a number of reasons including failing and refusing to bargain in good faith; refusing to reinstate three employees to their former jobs; unilaterally changing the terms and conditions of employment for represented employees; refusing to provide information to the union; and, indefinitely suspending a bargaining team member because of union activities.

“This case is a perfect example why the new rules proposed yesterday by the NLRB are absolutely necessary,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “The representation process is in dire need of ways to streamline and speed up unionization. The current system in place allows corporations like Kentucky River to deny employees basic rights for 13 years by successfully using delaying tactics ... more