From Staff Reports 

The coronavirus pandemic has postponed — for now — the union election, but the campaign to organize 1,500 Mission nurses has continued on with the vigorous exchange of stinging verbal shots and blistering accusations. 

In the aftermath of criticism from the National Nurses United, Mission Health officials responded with charges that the NNU had turned the coronavirus outbreak into a “publicity event” to energize its goal of organizing Mission Hospital nurses.

To that end, in an April 6 story, the Asheville Citizen Times reported that Mission Health spokeswoman Nancy Lindell in an April 2 statement asserted, “Mission Health has frequently stated our position on unions, but the union’s behavior during a crisis shows exactly why we believe a union is wrong for Mission Health and Asheville.

“It’s unfortunate that the union is attempting to turn a crisis into a publicity event designed to promote the union’s own agenda and spreading fear and misinformation.”

The ACT added, “Mission’s statement came as the hospital system and union battle over organizing registered nurses at Mission’s flagship facility in Asheville. On March 6, Mission nurses petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a union election. Mission nurses will be represented by NNU, the nation’s largest nurses union, if more than half of the votes side with forming the union.”

If the Mission nurses unionize, they would hold collective bargaining power over benefits and workplace standards,” which, the ACT noted, “the latter of which has been an area of concern some nurses. 

“Prior to an election, both sides have a campaign period in which nurses, the union and Mission management can advocate for or against unionization. Nurses have worn buttons and organized rallies outside of work.”

In the meantime, management has placed signs in the hospitals and conducted group and one-on-one informational meetings that, “numerous staff members told the Citizen Times they believed to be mandatory. Mission told the Citizen Times the meetings were optional.”

Terry Combs, assistant to the regional director at the NLRB, has told reporters that official pre-election hearings remain postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s unconscionable that the hospital would focus on an anti-union campaign, rather than spending their time preparing for COVID-19,” said Bradley Van Waus, the southern regional director for National Nurses United, according to the ACT story. “This just underscores the reason why nurses are forming a union at Mission so that they can advocate for their community.” 

RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — News 13 has learned that HCA Healthcare has been granted another extension for answering the state attorney general’s concerns about its deal with Mission Health.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein sent HCA a letter in February about issues raised by the public since the for-profit operator took over last year.

NC ATTORNEY GENERAL DEMANDS ANSWERS AFTER HIGH VOLUME OF HCA-MISSION COMPLAINTS

HCA has admitted a billing change last August created confusion and is refunding patients impacted.

FILE image: News 13 interviewed AG Josh Stein on his latest request for answers from HCA Healthcare. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)

MISSION HEALTH APOLOGIZES, SENDS REFUNDS AFTER COMPLAINTS OVER BILLING CHANGE

But, they have asked the Stein’s office to extend their response to other concerns until the end of April.

NCDV Letter to AG Stein by News 13 WLOS on Scribd

This extension is the second in line after Stein changed the deadline from March 11 to the end of March .

NC ATTORNEY GENERAL GIVES HCA HEALTHCARE UNTIL THE END OF MARCH TO ANSWER CONCERNS

The AG’s office has agreed to the latest request for an extension, given the current pandemic situation.

An AG Healthcare spokesperson sent the following statement to News 13:

Our office appreciates this response – as well as the previous letter we received – and is looking forward to learning more about this and other issues. HCA requested and our office granted a delay in responding until the end of April, which is appropriate given COVID19.