ITHACA, N.Y. — The National Labor Relations Board hearing investigating Cayuga Medical Center originally planned to resume Monday has been postponed until late February.
The board is investigating allegations that Cayuga Medical Center fired two nurses based on their union activity. The hospital denies the charges and claims it fairly terminated the nurses after they violated blood transfusion protocol.
Last year, the hospital was found to have violated federal labor law by interfering with nurses’ unionizing efforts. The NLRB judge in the previous case also determined Cayuga Medical Center had unlawfully disciplined nurses, including Anne Marshall, one of the nurses who was fired. The hospital disagreed with the NLRB’s ruling and has filed an appeal.
The second hearing began Jan. 9, but adjourned early Jan. 12 after an attorney had a medical issue. Only four witnesses have testified so far — two nurses, a nurses aide and the sister of the patient who filed a complaint about her blood transfusion.
The plan was initially to resume the hearing Monday, however the case has been pushed back again until Feb. 27, according to Paul Murphy, assistant to the regional director in Buffalo.
A location for the hearing has not been scheduled yet, Murphy said.