NLRB/CNA Disregards Fremont-Rideout Health Group Nurses' Will, Impose Injunction to Reinstate Union

YUBA CITY, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Today, in a special hearing, a court failed to support the will of
Fremont-Rideout Health Group (FRHG) nurses to withdraw representation of the
California Nurses Association (CNA) and granted a National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) petition for injunctive relief. The injunction requires FRHG to recognize
CNA again while the proceedings before the NLRB continue on CNA`s charges
seeking to overturn the nurses` decision to no longer be represented by the
union.

Fremont-Rideout Health Group opposed the NLRB`s request for an injunction since
the majority of the hospitals` nurses signed a petition requesting that FRHG
withdraw recognition of the union.

"While we are extremely disappointed that the will of our nurses is being
disregarded yet again by CNA, we continue to stand in support of our employees
and look forward to a final resolution of this matter," said Tresha Moreland,
Vice President of Human Resources at Fremont-Rideout Health Group.

The injunction that was granted does not change the fundamental differences
between the union`s past contract proposals and the Last, Best and Final Offer
made back in January of 2008 by the Fremont-Rideout Health Group, nor does it
require either party to change its positions from previous bargaining. A primary
difference is the union`s insistence on a mandatory dues structure that would
force all nurses to pay dues versus Fremont-Rideout Health Group`s commitment to
the right of employees to choose whether to financially support CNA.

Contract negotiations between Fremont-Rideout Health Group and CNA had been at a
standstill since the final offer was made by the hospitals last January. CNA
voted to reject the offer, which delayed wage and benefit increases for the
Fremont-Rideout nurses.

Earlier, in November 2007, nurses filed a petition for an election to remove the
union as their representative, but the union repeatedly filed unfair labor
practice charges in order to "block" the election. In November 2008, a second
petition was filed with the NLRB and was also presented to FRHG. The NLRB agrees
that the second petition had been signed by a majority of nurses at Rideout
Memorial Hospital and Fremont Medical Center to remove the California Nurses
Association as their bargaining representative. The case in which the NLRB has
obtained an interim injunction centers primarily around claims that a few nurses
subsequently revoked their signatures on the petition, even though the union
never communicated this claim to Fremont-Rideout Health Group or any of those
who were circulating the petitions. FRHG was not notified of the union`s claim
of revocations until over a month after it had withdrawn recognition of the
union.

"The bottom line is that we support the decision by our nurses to reject
representation by the CNA," Moreland said. "Our duty is to carry out the wishes
of our employees and we remain confident that we will ultimately prevail in the
proceedings before the NLRB."

"We are committed to providing an open, supportive work environment for our
nurses who provide excellent care for our patients every day," Moreland added.
"We have established a cooperative partnership with our nurses and we hope to
build on this new relationship once the NLRB case is behind us."

For more information about FRHG, please visit: www.frhg.org.

For up to date information about FRHG and CNA, please visit: www.cnaalert.org.

About Fremont-Rideout Health Group

As the only acute care hospitals in our community, FRHG provides quality
healthcare around the clock to its patients and residents. The not-for-profit,
independent health group includes three acute care hospitals -- Fremont Medical
Center, Rideout Memorial Hospital and Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital along with
The Fountains skilled nursing facility,Courtyard Assisted Living Facility, The
Gardens Alzheimer's Facility and Feather River Surgery Center. Other services
including Home Care, Hospice, Great Beginnings, and the Occupational Health
Clinics.

Fremont-Rideout Health Group
Tresha Moreland, 530-749-4680

Copyright Business Wire 2009