Labor Relations

Case Study

The organization is a medium-sized independent living home, Happy
Trails, LLC. It is a for-profit facility located in a suburban
environment. Due to traffic and road congestion, this eldercare facility
is the most convenient independent living home near the city.
Independent living homes in the city offer many of the same services as
Happy Trails, but are more expensive. There are also a number of
hospitals that the elderly may go to for acute health care issues.

In a response to the changing economy and patient access from the
suburban areas to the city, Happy Trails has taken some measures to
compete and become more attractive, and build on its long-term care for
patients in the surrounding areas. It has reduced overtime allotments of
its seasoned patient care staff, and has terminated several registered
nurses. As the registered nurses have left Happy Trails, they were
replaced by Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), who receive lower
compensation and fewer benefits.

The health care facilities in the city have been unionized and are well
represented by an experienced union business agent. The union has
recently negotiated superior wages and benefits at the independent
living homes in the city.

In terms of the health care professionals employed there, Happy Trails
is not so happy now because the union representing the other facilities
has gotten the attention of the Happy Trails LPNs.

a.      What would you advise the LPNs to do? Should they unionize?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of unionizing at Happy Trials?

b.      What issues might the union raise during the organizing
effort?

c.      What steps should the LPNs follow to unionize?

d.      What unfair labor practices need to be avoided by LPNs?