A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge has ruled that St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, New York, violated federal labor law by firing radiology technician and union leader Andrea Roe. The hospital had claimed it dismissed Roe over a health privacy violation, but the NLRB found the firing was motivated by anti-union animus.
NLRB Judge Benjamin W. Green issued a detailed 26-page decision confirming that hospital management engaged in a campaign to identify and retaliate against union organizers, including Roe, who led the successful campaign to unionize the staff with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. 1199SEIU was represented at the hearing by Jessica E. Harris, of Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss, LLP.
The judge cited testimony and emails showing management’s hostility toward union activity, including efforts to single out organizers as “ringleaders” and viewing union supporters as disloyal.
As a remedy, the judge ordered St. Anthony to reinstate Roe with full back pay and restore her to her position, finding that the hospital’s conduct violated the National Labor Relations Act.
The case is St. Anthony Community Hospital v. 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Case No. 02-CA-278511, before the NLRB Division of Judges.