Kadlec reaches settlement with nurses union over unfair labor practice investigation

Kadlec Regional Medical Center will avoid a trial after agreeing to settle with the union representing its nurses over alleged retaliation. 

Regional officials with the National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB, had found sufficient evidence to formally charge Kadlec with violating federal labor law by interfering with nurses’ protected union rights and discriminating against employees because of union activity, according to the Washington State Nurses Association, or WSNA. 

Under the terms of the settlement, Kadlec will remove disciplinary actions from the files of three nurses and post a notice for 60 days informing employees of their rights under federal labor law. 

“Nurses were telling us they were being retaliated against for union activity, and we couldn’t let that continue,” said WSNA nurse representative Laurie Robinson in a statement. “This case shows the facility continued these behaviors until it was forced to change.