(OLEAN) – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is Expected to Schedule a Hearing Concerning 18 Challenged Ballots to Decide Whether a Recently-Established Bargaining Unit at Olean General Hospital Will Be Represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA)

An NLRB Election was Held on Friday (October 25th) in Olean and When the 118 Votes Cast by Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Techs Were Counted, 55 had Voted No and 45 Voted Yes.  A Total of 18 Other Ballots Were Challenged.

According to Information Posted on the CWA’s Social Network Facebook Page, the NLRB will Schedule a Hearing on the Issues Raised by the Challenged Ballots to Determine Whether or Not They Will Be Counted.  Final Results of the Voting are Anticipated to be Certified After the Challenges are Resolved by the NLRB.

According to the CWA, OGH Management had Made Some Broad Challenges to Job Titles Where There Is Strong Support for Organizing With the CWA, which said it Looks Forward to the NLRB Resolving these Outstanding Votes As Soon As Possible.

According to a Report in The Olean Times Herald, there were Questions Involving Some of the OGH Workers Who Cast Votes and If They Could Be Considered a True Member of the Newly-Formed Bargaining Unit. 

On Another Front, the CWA said it had Received Numerous Reports of Intimidation Tactics by Management Prior to the Voting Day and During the Voting Day, which the Union is Currently Investigating.

In Addition, the CWA is Publicly Asking any OGH Worker Involved in the Voting Who Has Any First-Hand Knowledge of Such an Occurrence to Speak with the CWA Organizing Committee or Contact CWA Local 1168 in Buffalo at 716-639-1168.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper Focused a Labor Spotlight on the CWA’s Organizing Drive at Olean General Hospital in the October Edition WNYLaborToday.com’s Labor News TV Program: Western New York Labor News… NOW!, which currently can be Viewed Off WNYLaborToday.com’s Front Page.