NLRB News: Court Orders Kairos Healthcare to recognize, bargain with union

On August 23, 2013, the NLRB’s Detroit, MI Regional Office issued a complaint alleging that Holy Cross Youth and Family Services, Inc., d/b/a Kairos Healthcare (the Employer) unlawfully withdrew recognition from Local 517M, Service Employees International Union (the Union), made unilateral changes to employees’ terms and conditions of employment without affording the Union an opportunity to bargain over those changes, and failed to provide relevant information to the Union to assist in its bargaining with the Employer on behalf of the employees. The Employer provides drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Saginaw, Michigan.

The Regional Office sought, and the Board authorized, pursuit of interim injunctive relief to return the parties to the bargaining table pending final resolution of the matter, to require the Employer to provide the Union with the information it requested and, upon request, to rescind the unilateral changes made to employees’ terms and conditions of employment.

On February 21, 2014, a federal court judge for the Eastern District of Michigan agreed with the Board and ordered the temporary relief sought. Specifically, the judge determined that an interim injunction was appropriate to prevent loss of Union support, to preserve the employees’ right to bargain with their Employer through their chosen bargaining representative, and to provide the Union with the information it needs to evaluate and make bargaining proposals while the administrative case is pending before the Board.

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