Service Employees International Union v. St. Vincent Medical Center

At issue in this case is the arbitrability of alleged violations of an agreement between Plaintiffs Appellants Service Employees International Union (“SEIU”) and Service Employees International Union, Local 399 (“SEIU Local 399”) (collectively “the Union”) and Defendants Appellees St. Vincent Medical Center and the Daughters of Charity Health Systems, Inc. (“DOCHS”) (collectively “the Employer”). The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) conducted a representational election at St. Vincent Medical Center. The Union lost the election. The Union then alleged that the Employer violated various provisions of an agreement that restricted the parties’ behavior during union organizing campaigns. Specifically, the Union contended that during the union organizing drive at St. Vincent Medical Center, the Employer committed eighteen acts in direct violation of the agreement, including encouraging workers to vote against unionization, giving support and assistance to anti-union workers, unreasonably restricting access to conference rooms, interrogating workers about their support for the union, and making inflammatory religious appeals to employees. Pursuant to the agreement, the…