The issue over the firing and suspension of nurses at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston has reached the Congressional level.
Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and a fellow Democrat from Illinois are demanding owner Prime Health end what they call “intimidation” and “retaliation” against nurses engaged in union activity.
They’re citing reports of police being called on nurses handing out information outside hospitals and hospital-branded material urging employees vote against union representation.
“All workers should have the free choice to join a union, should they choose to form one, without interference or intimidation,” said a letter from Pingree and Representative Robert Kelly of Illinois addressed to Prime Healthcare Chairman and CEO Dr. Prem Reddy.
Prime Healthcare has suspended or fired 20 nurses at CMMC, and has fired six nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago ahead of a June union election and two nurses at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada.
Nurses are attempting to unionize at CMMC in Lewiston, along with Olympia Fields Hospital in Olympia Fields, Illinois; and Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois,
Prime Health says the terminations and suspensions at the hospitals are not connected to union activity, but are strictly due to severe infractions like patient abandonment and safety violations.
The letter to the Prime Healthcare is co-signed by Maine Congressman Jared Golden and 10 other Democratic U.S. House members. Read the letter here.
