Alaska Nurses Association v. Wrangell Medical Center
Alaska Labor Relations Agency
Case No. 10-1591-RC, Decision and Order No. 296 (2011)
Facts
The Alaska Nurses Association (association) (plaintiff) petitioned the Alaska Labor Relations Agency (ALRA) to certify representation of a unit of seven nonsupervisory registered nurses working at Wrangell Medical Center (Wrangell) (defendant). Wrangell was a relatively small facility combining acute and long-term care for few patients. The facility employed 12 supervisory and 54 nonsupervisory employees, from medical technologists to laundry workers. Because of the small number of employees, significant functional integration and frequent interaction among employees occurred. Nurses played a pivotal role but were assisted by other employees, providing medical care to patients as a team. All employees were paid hourly wages, worked similar hours, and had similar employment terms and conditions. None belonged to a union, and only some expressed a desire to unionize. Wrangell opposed certification, arguing a unit of only seven nurses would unnecessarily fragment the bargaining unit, violating the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA), Alaska’s public-sector labor statute. Instead, Wrangell proposed a wall-to-wall bargaining unit of all nonsupervisory personnel.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Author information not provided.)
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