Mass. Labor Board Formally Charges Chelsea Schools with Failure to Recognize USW

On August 24, 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations (DLR) issued a formal complaint against the Chelsea School Committee for withdrawing recognition from Local 9427 of the United Steelworkers as the representative of the school nurses and nurses' aides and for changing their conditions of employment without bargaining.

Up until last week, the nurses and aides reported to the City's Board of Health and were part of a larger bargaining unit of City Hall employees. But with the start of the new school year yesterday, all nursing operations were transferred to the School Department. While the City Hall representatives cooperated with the Union with regard to the transition, the School Committee has stubbornly refused to recognize and bargain with the Union and has insisted to the nurses and aides that they are unrepresented.

Attorney Al Gordon O'Connell filed charges with the DLR, which yesterday issued a formal complaint against the School Committee for withdrawing recognition from the USW and for changing the employees working conditions. The complaint underscores the state Labor Board's long-held view that a City and School Committee are a single employer who jointly share obligations toward unions representing municipal employees.