UPMC Workers Reinstated Amidst Union Dispute

[Omaha Steve]

Source: KDKA

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Four workers fired for trying to organize a union at UPMC will be reinstated in the next two weeks following a big ruling from the national labor relations board.

An NLRB administrative law judge ruled that UPMC engaged in unfair labor practices.

He says the health care giant “has engaged in egregious and widespread misconduct.”

The judge also ordered UPMC to allow non-employee organizers access its cafeteria.

FULL story at link.

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(Photo Credit: KDKA)

Read more: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/11/16/upmc-workers-reinstated-amidst-union-dispute/

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Obama's NLRB continues to do great work!!!

[femmocrat]

1. K & R

[freshwest]

2. Thanks for the good news and thanks to Roosevelt, Obama and Griffin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Labor_Relations_Board

[Divernan]

3. Re layoffs, UPMC always finds the highest paid workers are "underperforming"

Here's the rest of the linked report

Workers are also allowed to wear union insignia in non-patient care areas.

The Service Employees International Union is attempting to unionize 3,500 non-clinical UPMC employees.

In a statement, UPMC says the fired workers were under-performing and that other employees show little to no interest in organizing a union.

UPMC has been laying off a lot. According to my friend whose husband is a cardiologist there, UPMC thought they'd get tons of new clients for their health insurance transferring from competitive Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield. That hasn't happened, so lots of UPMC layoffs. Another friend has a sister who worked for UPMC for some 15 years. She and 2 other women in her UPMC office (i.e, office workers are among the "non-clinical workers" which the union is seeking to organize) were just laid off - and amazingly(saracasm), they had the most seniority in same office, and were therefore the highest paid.

This behemoth of a bloated medical care octopus has spread its "non-profit" tentacles from it's humble beginnings as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to an international presence with facilities as far flung as Ireland, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/compensation-issues/upmc-ceo-jeffrey-romoff-sees-reduced-salary-bonus.html

Although UPMC's president/CEO's bonus and salary fell, his total compensation, which includes the value of retirement accounts and other benefits, was $6.1 million. That's a 3 percent increase from the previous year's total of $5.9 million, according to the report.

UPMC spokesperson Susan Manko said the change in pay is not an indication that the board is dissatisfied with Mr. Romoff's performance, according to the report. Rather, she said a portion of his bonus was deferred.

UPMC is facing a lawsuit filed by the city of Pittsburgh that challenges the system's tax-exempt status. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl specifically mentioned UPMC executive salaries when he announced the lawsuit in March. In addition to Mr. Romoff, tax returns show 21 UPMC executives were paid more than $1 million in 2011, according to the report.

[Stuart G]

4. Thank You for this additional information. also...UPMC-University of Pittsburg Medical Center..