Judge Tells Hospital to Honor Nurses’ Ballots

Administrators at Antelope Valley Hospital must recognize the card-style ballots submitted by registered nurses who are considering union representation, according to a decision issued this week by an administrative law judge.

In May, a majority of nurses at the 350-bed hospital submitted cards indicating that they wished to be represented by the California Nurses Assn., CNA spokeswoman Beth Kean said. The hospital’s board of directors, however, maintained that a secret ballot election was necessary.

On Monday, Donn Ginoza, an administrative law judge with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board, ruled that the hospital must recognize the cards. Ginoza said a new state law permitting such elections overrides a local rule calling for a secret ballot vote.

Hospital officials have not decided if they will appeal the ruling, spokesman Ed Callahan said.