THOUSAND OAKS : Hearing Required on Nurses’ Claim
Nurses at Los Robles Medical Center will have to persuade a federal hearing officer that they are not part of hospital management before they can vote to form a union.
A National Labor Relations Board official decided Wednesday that an additional hearing is required to consider claims from administrators of the Thousand Oaks hospital that the registered nurses have administrative responsibilities and therefore cannot be recognized as a bargaining unit.
Nurses began joining the American Federation of Nurses, Local 535, last year after cuts in wages and benefits. But administrators have refused to acknowledge the group.
Union organizer Jim Moreau said the hearing could begin as soon as Monday, but may be delayed until the end of the month. He said union leaders had hoped the date, place and time for an election would have been set at Wednesday’s hearing.
The election is required before about 300 registered nurses can be declared a bargaining unit for contract negotiation purposes.
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