Registered nurses across the nation welcome the National Labor Relations Board Office of General Counsel's decision to move forward with a consolidated complaint against Community Health Systems, National Nurses United announced today.

The complaint, issued by the NLRB yesterday, consolidates 29 charges filed against seven hospitals, six of which are staffed by RNs affiliated with National Nurses United. These include: Affinity Medical Center, Massillon, Oh, Bluefield Regional Medical Center, Bluefield, W. Va., Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Ronceverte, W.Va., Fallbrook Hospital, Fallbrook, Ca., Barstow Community Hospital, Barstow, Ca., and Watsonville Community Hospital, Watsonville, Ca.

"We are thrilled that the NLRB has finally recognized what nurses working at CHS-owned hospitals have known all along, that CHS is their employer and should be held accountable for the eroding conditions in the hospitals that it owns," said Deborah Burger, RN, Co-President, National Nurses United. "We are particularly heartened that the remedies proposed in the complaint would pertain to all CHS-owned hospitals with the potential to contribute to improved patient care for people across the nation."

Nurses widespread concerns about patient safety were the driving force that galvanized RNs from the chain's hospitals in Ohio, West Virginia and California to organize and win representation through NNU-affiliated unions, California Nurses Association and National Nurses Organizing Committee. CHS has engaged in rampant and serious unfair labor practices at all of these locations, including terminating RN leaders in a wide-scale attempt to weaken support for the union and forestall reaching initial collective bargaining agreements. The NLRB has upheld numerous unfair labor practice charges filed against the hospitals by NNU and three US District Courts issued injunctions in response to the employer's unlawful conduct early in contract negotiations with RNs.  

"As nurses we are very pleased to have the opportunity to expose CHS for what they are, a large corporation that tries to hide behind the small-town hospitals they run," said Debra McKinney, RN Affinity Medical Center, Massillon, Oh. "The company culture is to treat patients like numbers, not human beings. We are committed to getting our patients the care they deserve from CHS."

"Speaking out against CHS takes a great deal of courage for those of us at Watsonville. Watsonville nurses have struggled for two years to negotiate a fair and safe contract for our patients and nurses. The complaint by the NLRB validates our nurses' struggle to hold this corporation accountable and expose its dangerous practices." Luana Augusta-Morris, RN, Watsonville Community Hospital.

"CHS has used its power and wealth to chip away at the quality of care since it first purchased our community hospital in 1998. They have disregarded nurses' concerns about patient safety for far too long. The registered nurses of Watsonville are watching this case closely and hope the NLRB will do what is right and finally hold CHS accountable." Jennifer Holm, RN, Watsonville Community Hospital.

"My co-workers and I strive to provide the best care possible to our patients. We also obey the law and it is high time CHS be held to the same standards. We are very happy that this case is moving forward," said Amy Pulley, RN, Affinity Medical Center, Massillon, Oh."

"RNs who've been fighting for years for a voice in patient care feel CHS' unlawful behavior is a deliberate, system-wide policy. We see this decision as a huge step towards improved care for CHS patients nationally," said Mary Moon, RN, Barstow Community Hospital.

Tennessee-based Community Health Systems/CHS, is the nation's second largest for-profit hospital chain, reporting $1.5 billion in profits over the last five years. The NLRB is scheduled to begin litigation in Cleveland on December 15, 2015.