NLRB Orders Re-Run of Largest Ever Mail-Ballot Election; 43,000 Eligible Voters
Between September 13 and October 4, 2010, the National Labor Relations Board conducted the largest mail ballot election in its history, among approximately 43,000 California employees of Kaiser Permanente. The election, to determine whether whether the employees wanted to remain represented by SEIU-UHW, to select a different union, or to become unrepresented, saw over 30,000 of the eligible employees cast votes. A majority of voters – over 18,000 -- cast ballots in favor of continued SEIU representation.
The union which lost that election, National United Healthcare Workers (NUHW), filed 118 objections. This past Wednesday, the Board ordered the historic election to be rerun, following a Hearing Officer’s recommendations that the original results be set aside due to objectionable conduct by the employer and the SEIU-UHW.
According to the Board’s Order, SEIU-UHW and Kaiser waived their rights to file exceptions to the Hearing Officer’s report and filed a joint motion with the Board agreeing to the new election. NUHW opposed that request – perhaps trying to buy more time to build support. The Order by Chairman Wilma B. Liebman and Members Brian Hayes and Mark Gaston Pearce -- with Member Craig Becker recused on account of SEIU’s involvement -- granted the joint motion and remanded the case to the Oakland region for appropriate action, including the scheduling of a new election.
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