Yorkregion.com - Markham - Nurses reject union bid at Markham Stouffville
Nurses reject union bid at Markham Stouffville
Markham
May 17, 2008 09:32 PM
By: Michael Power
Nurses at Markham Stouffville Hospital have voted against unionizing with the Ontario Nurses Association.
In a vote taken April 30, 419 nurses cast ballots from a potential 568. The result was 258 against unionizing to 160 in favour.
Markham Stouffville is the only hospital in York Region in which nurses are not unionized.
Few large hospitals in Ontario remain without a union, said ONA president Linda Haslam-Stroud. Peel Region’s Credit Valley Hospital, the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children and Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital are among those without a nurses’ union.
“I could count them on one hand,” Ms Haslam-Stroud said.
The association represents 54,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals across Ontario in hospitals, long-term care homes and other institutions.
The union represents more than 500 bargaining units.
The vote ends a two-year campaign by the ONA to organize a union at the hospital during which, said Ms Halsam-Stroud, Markham Stouffville offered inducements to nurses to convince them not to unionize.
As well, nurses at Markham Stouffville were offered lunches, dinners and spa days in an attempt to prove no union was necessary, claimed a source who asked not to be named.
The hospital “offered little tidbits to say they are such a good employer,” according to the source, who called such inducements a misuse of public money.
As well, Ms Haslam-Stroud claimed, the hospital employed consultants to aid in halting attempts by the nurses to unionize.
“It’s my understanding they did use consultants in developing the strategies to stop the union from being successful,” she said.
But the hospital offered no inducements to nurses in an attempt to convince them to reject a union, said Janet Roberts, vice-president of clinical programs and chief nurse executive at the hospital.
“We did not participate in that activity to entice nurses in that way,” Ms Roberts said. “We believe Markham Stouffville Hospital is a great place to work and we have always prided ourselves on our excellent working relationship with our staff.”
As well, the hospital didn’t employ consultants in an attempt to convince nurses not to unionize.
“I can’t comment on it because it didn’t happen,” Ms Roberts said.
When it comes to interfering with employees’ attempts to unionize, employers aren’t permitted to do much, said Thornhill-based human resources consultant David Dimitry.
An employer is allowed to state an opinion about unionization as long as no intimidation, bribery or fear-mongering takes place.
“The employer is severely restricted in getting involved in those types of discussions,” Mr. Dimitry said.
“The (labour relations) act is very clear that an employer is not to be involved.”
To pursue such complaints, the complainant must prove an employer engaged in such behaviour, Mr. Dimitry said.
For instance, the person would have to support a claim with witnesses or affidavits.
“The onus of proof is with the person making the claim,” Mr. Dimitry said.
If nurses at the hospital remain interested in unionizing, they can approach the ONA again after a year, Ms Haslam-Stroud said.