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Unionization Issues in a Health Care Organization

Unionizing an organization is a historic maneuver to protect worker's rights and provide leverage when negotiating contracts with superiors. Unionization occurs in nearly every industry--from restaurant workers to fire fighters--and is also a prevalent feature in the health care industry. While unionizing offers many benefits, there can also be issues with the process that can cause difficulty.

  1. Recognition Pressure

    • If a health care organization is not yet represented by a union it can face pressure to join. According to the Houston Business Journal, a union campaign can start with efforts to criticize a health care organization's reputation by publicly announcing, for example, hospitals with sanitation issues or controversial patient policies. Pressures often include picketing and leafleting and may target certain health care groups, such as nurses associations, to unionize.

      "Those advancing the union," warns labor attorney, Mark Temple, "may enlist the support of community leaders and try to block construction or expansion projects."

    Employer Resistance

    • Employees in a health care association interested in organizing can also face resistance from the inside. Employers fearful of union power may oppose unionization by refusing to acknowledge the union or even threaten retribution if employees choose to join a union. In response to "union-busting" by employers, the federal government instituted the National Labor Relations Act in 1935 to forbid employers from disrupting plans for employees to engage in union organizing activities.

    Distribution and Solicitation Requirements

    • Once a health care organization joins a union it is often required to engage in literature distribution and fundraising activities to keep the union alive. If health care workers want to protest working conditions, unfair pay or bullying by bosses to unfairly alter schedules, unionized organizations may need to pay for materials to host rallies or employ outside lawyers. Unionized employees are also subjected to abide by certain rules while on work premises. Handing out union leaflets, according to the Houston Business Journal, may be limited to non-professional areas and employees may be allowed to verbally encourage others to join the union but face restriction when it comes to tangible literature.

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