The California Nurses Association (CNA) has filed a massive complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Alhambra Hospital Medical Center in Alhambra, Ca. for violating registered nurses rights to a fair union election.

Registered nurses at Alhambra Hospital will vote on January 5 whether to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United. In the days preceding the scheduled election hospital administrators have been stepping up actions against CNA supporters, say RNs, contributing to a pattern of actions that nurses say violate federal labor law protections.

“We are deeply concerned that the Alhambra management is violating our right to a fair election and putting patients in harms way,” Monica Recendez, RN. “Despite a $28 million net profit, management claims it has no resources to improve staffing and yet it spends resources on anti-union consultants to undermine the RNs and Caregivers, rather than respect the law and improve staffing to provide better care.”

“We have seen just about everything from Alhambra management: crocodile tears, flat screen TV’s, diamond earrings, threats, intimidation, bribery, surveillance, union busters abusing RNs and Caregivers who are taken away in the middle of patient care hours, but we have not seen safe staffing and respect for our rights,” said Tinny Abogado, RN.

Alhambra Hospital is part of Southern California-based AHMC Healthcare.  CNA already represents the RNs at two other small AHMC hospitals, San Gabriel Valley Medical Center and Whittier Hospital Medical Center.

RNs at Alhambra are seeking wage parity with other AHMC hospitals, an increased voice in patient care conditions, and a contract that requires the hospital to comply with the state’s mandated nurse-to-patient ratio law to protect patient safety.

Alhambra is the most profitable hospital in the AHMC system. Overall AHMC reported over $80 million in profits the past five years. 

The California Nurses Association represents nearly 100,000 RNs throughout the state.