One Central Maine Medical Center nurse will return to work this week after being fired in mid-September, the National Nurses Organization announced in a press release issued Monday night.
Hospital Disciplines Employees Amid Union Retaliation Claims
The unnamed nurse returning this week was among 20 employees disciplined last month for what Central Maine Medical Center officials described as documented violations of established hospital policies and standards. Local leaders from across the political spectrum criticized the hospital at the time, arguing that the terminations were direct retaliation for a recent unionization effort. Such actions would violate state and federal labor laws, according to local officials who demanded the reinstatement of all affected staff.
The controversy extends beyond Maine to another Prime Healthcare facility, Olympia Fields Hospital in Illinois. Hillary Ferrell, a former nurse at Olympia Fields, stated in the press release that nurses were unlawfully disciplined for patient advocacy. Four of the six nurses fired during a unionization effort at Olympia Fields last month were reinstated by Monday night. Nurses at Olympia Fields voted 82% in favor of unionization on Sept. 23, while Central Maine Medical Center nurses approved their union by 91% on Sept. 24.
Union Demands Reinstatement of All Suspended Nurses
The National Nurses Organization, an affiliate of the National Nurses United union, released the update on the single CMMC nurse at almost 8 p.m. Monday. The labor group confirmed it continues to fight on behalf of the remaining nurses who remain suspended or fired following the September elections. Katie Grinnell, a former nurse at Central Maine Medical Center, asserted that Prime Healthcare must reinstate all suspended and fired staff and cease challenging the election results, pointing out that the workforce won the vote by a landslide.
Keep reading