Resurrection Health Care has settled yet another charge of violating the rights of its employees—the 14th such charge it has settled in the past four years. The latest settlement comes after Region 13 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) indicated it would issue a complaint against RHC. According to the settlement, RHC must post notices pledging not to repeat the behavior and affirming employees’ right to form a union at Resurrection Medical Center, the chain's largest affiliate hospital. 

The NLRB charges stemmed from a June 1 incident when a supervisor called a union activist into a closed-door meeting. The supervisor allegedly interrogated the employee about circulating a petition to improve wages for patient-support staff and interfered with her right to further circulate the petition.

Signed by more than 200 patient-support staff, the petition urged Resurrection to raise wages for housekeeping, food service and laundry employees, many of who are mired in poverty. The petition also called on Resurrection to eliminate its maximum-salary cap so that long-term employees can be rewarded for their commitment and dedication.

“Resurrection management has infringed on our right to free speech and freedom to
organize,” said Bernice Grau, the complainant and an employee in the laundry department at
Resurrection Medical Center. “It is difficult for employees to speak out when this kind of intimidation goes on, so I’m glad to see that management will be required to post notices that remind employees that we have rights.” 

Since 2003, Resurrection has settled 14 unfair labor practice charges alleging interrogation, harassment, interference in organizing activities, and the prohibition of the distribution of union literature. By settling the charges, Resurrection has prevented further NLRB actions.

“Time and again, Resurrection employees have faced harassment and intimidation just for exercising their right to organize,” said Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31, which is working with RHC employees to form their union.  “It’s past time for this employer to respect the rights of its employees.”

Resurrection Health Care is the second-largest health care system in the Chicago metropolitan area and the largest Catholic health care system in Illinois.