The National Labor Relations Board will soon file an unfair labor practice complaint against Northern Michigan Hospital, which could prevent a re-vote for Teamsters representation in February.

"The hospital says it's business as usual," Teamsters lawyer Ted Iorio said. "Now the labor board is issuing a complaint. It will put the credibility of the hospital administration in a different light."

Chet Byerly, resident officer for the NLRB in Grand Rapids, confirmed that a complaint will be issued next week, citing the hospital has violated a National Labor Relations act which gives employees the right to engage in labor activities and not be discriminated against. Unless the matter is quickly resolved by the hospital, the opportunity to re-vote for Teamsters representation - which is possible in February - will be blocked.

Northern Michigan Hospital spokesperson Tom Spencer said he hadn't heard that a complaint would be issued.

"We have not received any sort of communication from the NLRB of that nature," he said. "We have no such information along those lines. But it's not unusual for unfair labor practices to be filed in a situation like this."

Iorio said the complaint is unbiased.

"A complaint comes after hours and hours of investigation, where both sides give their evidence to the neutral," he said. "The neutral is the labor board."

Iorio also said he recently received a letter from NMH lawyer Steve Fishman, in response to the Teamsters' request to meet.

"No less than 15 times Fishman said that the offer is final," Iorio said, referring to the NMH final proposal that was issued on Dec. 23, with the message that negotiations were over. "He said if we wanted to sent them something we could, but they're not going to meet.

"I think it's an indication of the course of arrogance and abuse of power by the hospital."

Fishman was not available for comment.

Registered nurses at Northern Michigan Hospital voted in favor of Teamsters representation in October 2001, and the NLRB certified the election in February 2002 after NMH challenged some votes. Bargaining began in April, and 25 meetings have ensued, during which both parties offered proposals and counter proposals. Government mediators were present during the last several meetings, and both NMH and the Teamsters presented offers one day before the strike began.

Since Nov. 14, about half of NMH RNs have been on strike, and replacement nurses from U.S. Nursing Corp. have been working in every department of the hospital