MPR: Nurses union asks for 'unfair labor practices' strike (could not replace strikers permanently)

[Omaha Steve]

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/06/25/nurses-unfair-labor-practices-strike/

by Martin Moylan, Minnesota Public Radio
June 25, 2010

St. Paul, Minn. — As contract talks continue between Twin Cites hospitals and their 12,000 nurses, nurses union leaders have been telling members that if they were to strike it would be an "unfair labor practices" strike.

The union says that would mean the hospitals could not replace strikers permanently -- their jobs would be safe. However, there has been no determination about whether the nurses could lose their jobs to permanent replacements.

On the Minnesota Nurses Association website, the union addresses members' concerns about everything from maintaining health insurance during a strike to handling mortgage payments during a walkout. Perhaps the biggest worry is the potential for the hospitals to replace strikers permanently.


A nurse walks by signs used for a previous strike after voting at the Minnesota Nurses Association headquarters in St. Paul, Minn. on Monday, June 21, 2010. The 12,000 nurses representing 14 Twin Cities hospitals voted that day to authorize an open-ended strike. (Jeffrey Thompson)

On its website, though, the union responds to that question by saying: "We are calling for a ULP (unfair labor practices) strike so we cannot be replaced and will return to our original positions."

The union has made dozens of allegations the hospitals have engaged in unfair practices. But union has no say in whether a strike qualifies as an unfair labor practices strike -- that decision starts with the National Labor Relations Board.

Marlin Osthus, regional director for the NLRB, said a minority of unfair labor complaints are upheld. And not just any unfair labor complaint that's upheld will protect strikers from being replaced forever. The violations have to be serious, he said.

"Generally, they would be cases alleging bad faith b

FULL story and audio at link.

[burnsei sensei]

1. There is a prerogative:

Quote:
The union has made dozens of allegations the hospitals have engaged in unfair practices. But union has no say in whether a strike qualifies as an unfair labor practices strike -- that decision starts with the National Labor Relations Board.
end quote.

Unions must take back this piece of authority for themselves.
Only workers and unions shouls determine what "unfair" is.
We should do what the Poles did under Soviet domination-- if the government refuses to give us reasonable authority over our working and living conditions, then we should take such reasonable authority ourselves.
If the right to strike or sympathy strike is denied you-- take it back yourself. Don't wait for the laws to become just. The elite in control will never budge.