'Union avoidance' campaign in full swing at Maine's largest hospital

In response to news that Maine Medical Center’s nursing staff are preparing to unionize, president Jeff Sanders recorded a video this week directed at the hospital’s 1,600 nurses.

In the nearly four-minute video, he describes what he sees as a collaborative work environment at Maine’s largest hospital, a deep commitment among management and staff to the organization’s core values, and pride at not having cut jobs or pay during the pandemic. He closes with an ask:

“I ask you to cast a vote to maintain Maine Medical Center as a union-free medical center,” Sanders says in the video message posted on Feb. 3. “I invite all of our nursing colleagues to take the time to educate themselves on what it would mean to be part of a union, and what it would mean to be union free. […] I strongly believe we have a much brighter future working together without a union in between.”

Sanders’ message is part of a campaign orchestrated by a hired consultant that specializes in countering efforts by workers to unionize.

Read more: https://mainebeacon.com/union-avoidance-campaign-in-full-swing-at-maines-largest-hospital/