Resources, Tools and Information

In October 2006, the Republican-dominated and industry-friendly National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) made the boldest attack in recent memory to restrict the union rights of as many as eight million American workers, including 800,000 RNs.

In the lead case ruling, Oakwood Healthcare Inc., the NLRB decided that nurses who serve as charge nurses either permanently or regularly on a limited part-time basis and who meet the Board’s newly defined criteria for assigning and responsibly directing others with ‘independent judgment’ may be considered supervisors under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).  Under the NLRA, supervisors are not eligible for the protections that come with union membership.

Explore the links below to learn about the NLRB decisions, what union nurses can do to fight back, what UAN and other unions are saying and more:

• Testimony by UAN's Lori Gay, RN, before the the U.S. House of Representatives' HELP Subcommittee—"Are NLRB and Court Rulings Misclassifying Skilled and Professional Employees as Supervisors?" (May 8, 2007)
• Legislative fix to the October 2006 Oakwood case rulings
• UAN Activist newsletter Fall 2006,
  Special Kentucky River issue
  This concise and handy primer on the Kentucky River rulings includes more on what the decisions say, tools for union members, unions on the offensive and a description of the NLRB.
• What the UAN is saying about Kentucky River
  Statements and comments from UAN leaders about the Kentucky River cases and nurse supervisor issue.
• UAN messages on Kentucky River
• Q&A on Kentucky River
  Factual information and interpretation to help answer the tough questions about the Kentucky River rulings.
• What UAN affiliates, other unions and organizations are saying about the Kentucky River rulings
• Links to other Kentucky River resources
• Kentucky River decisions in the news
• UAN backgrounder and Frequently Asked Questions on Kentucky River history and decisions
• Contact UAN for more information or to suggest additions to this page.