Judge says hospital workers can refuse OT
By The Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ A federal judge has denied Women and Infants Hospital’s motion to prevent employees from refusing to take extra shifts.
Chief Judge William E. Smith said in a memorandum issued Friday that the hospital did not show that employees’ refusal to work overtime would cause “irreparable harm.”
The hospital filed the motion after the union representing 1,700 of its employees encouraged members to turn down voluntary overtime in response to what the union says is nearly a year of negative interactions with the hospital.
The hospital announced in February its plans to lay off 41 employees. The union filed a lawsuit in response for what it says is a violation of the hospital’s contract with the union members.
Attorneys representing both sides could not be reached for comment.
(C) The Associated Press 2015
