NEW CASTLE Rejected workers picket hospital

Union members filed an unfair labor practice charge.
THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Diane Heaberlin spent the past 13 years working in the St. Francis Hospital kitchen, but she wasn't offered a job when a new health system took over.
"I filled out an application, and I had a good interview, but I think I wasn't hired because I was active in the union," said Heaberlin, a member of Teamsters Local 261.
Heaberlin and about 20 others who worked in housekeeping and dietary in the former St. Francis Hospital, who were Teamster union members, spent Tuesday afternoon picketing the hospital, on South Mercer Street.
Contract not renewed
They were employees of Sodexho, a company that had contracted with St. Francis to provide certain services. That contract was not renewed when Jameson Health System took over the facility last week.
The employees allege that Jameson hired less experienced people over long-term employees to take their positions.
The former Sodexho workers say they will continue to picket the hospital until they get their jobs back. Their last day of work was Thursday.
Complaint filed
The union has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board in Pittsburgh, contending its members were discriminated against because of their union affiliation, said Doug Robbins, president of Teamsters Local 261.
The Teamsters represented 46 people in the dietary and housekeeping departments. Robbins said the workers in those departments are no longer unionized because only 15 former union members were hired, more than half had to be hired to keep the union, he said.
Robbins said most that weren't hired had long tenure and good work records.
Hospital responds
Linda Cody, hospital spokeswoman, said that when Jameson bought the hospital it did not assume the Sodexho contract and went through its own hiring process for those departments. She said 20 former Sodexho employees were hired by Jameson.
Cody said she was not part of the hiring process but contends it was impossible for interviewers to know who was active in the union when interviewing employees.