CNA: Judge Rules Community Health Must Recognize Union

      "An administrative judge for the National Labor Relations Board has ruled that Community Health System must recognize and bargain with the California Nurses Association at University Medical Center," the Fresno Bee reports. Judge Michael Stevenson ruled Sept. 18 that Community "violated the Unfair Labor Practices Act in certain respects" by refusing to recognize the CNA at UMC when the health system acquired the hospital two years ago. In his ruling, which was mailed to the CNA and Community last week, Stevenson ordered Community to "recognize and bargain with CNA and make CNA unit employees whole for any losses they suffered as a result of respondent's Community's failure to recognize and bargain with the CNA." Don Nielson, a Fresno-area CNA representative, said, "This is the best possible victory we could get. We will make a demand to bargain as soon as possible." However, Community said it would appeal the decision. A Community statement read: "It's important to note that these recommendations are not final and they will not have any immediate impact on Community's daily operations. They merely represent a preliminary step in the dispute resolution process." San Francisco NLRB attorney Rony Clements said the appeal must be filed by Oct. 16 (Correa, 9/24).