SALINAS, Calif. -- A handful of union members took their protest to the home of Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital's treasurer, hours after the state alleged the hospital engaged in unfair labor practices by preventing striking workers from returning to their jobs.
Wednesday, the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) issued a complaint alleging Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital (SVMH) interfered with legally protected employee rights by telling workers they would be unable to return to work for two days after a strike.
Employees represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) walked off the job on Tuesday for 24 hours, protesting cuts and high compensation for executives.
The hospital hired temporary workers for the day of the strike, but officials said the only acceptable replacement firm demanded a three-day guaranteed minimum contract. SVMH said it had no choice but to keep some striking workers off the job until Friday.
"Our legal counsel is reviewing the complaint," said Adrienne Laurent, Director of Communications at SVMH. "We have been assured that there is strong legal precedent for the actions we took to ensure patient safety."
The PERB complaint details a memorandum sent to "all staff" from Bev Ratzenberger, Vice President of Operations at SVMH, a week before the strike. In a question-and-answer style format, the memo states that union members who resign before the strike can't be legally fined by the union if they cross the picket line.
The memo also details how employees could resign from the union, telling them they could "send a letter (by certified or registered mail) to the Union resigning from your membership -- or deliver it in person. You should keep a copy." It further states that resigning is the employee's personal choice.
"This conduct interfered with the rights of bargaining unit employees," the PERB complaint alleges.
Thursday morning, some union members took their demonstration from the front entrance of SVMH directly to the home of Harry Wardwell, Treasurer of the SVMH Board of Directors and President of Rabobank. 129 employees were still unable to go back on the job, replaced by temporary workers for one more day.
Wardwell is one of five publicly elected members of Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System's Board of Directors.
"We have to draw the Salinas community and everybody in the hospital district. Every resident in this neighborhood votes and they need to know that Harry Wardwell is making these cuts," said Marilyn Benson, an NUHW member.
Benson was one of roughly 20 people who demonstrated in the Las Palmas neighborhood Thursday. She wanted Wardwell's neighbors to know she thinks he is responsible for cuts at the hospital.
Laurent said it was unfortunate the union was targeting individual board members, but added the demonstrations wouldn't change the hospital's position.
"We're limited in what can be offered, so I don't know that that's going to change what can be offered," she said.
Union workers said they protested outside Wardwell's home because he refused to meet with them. They specifically chose Wardwell because he lives in a neighborhood where people would see the demonstration.
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital is required to file a response to PERB within 20 days of the complaint, dated Wednesday.
