Case: Labor Arbitration/Work Assignments

University of Cincinnati Medical Center did not violate its collective-bargaining agreement with the Ohio Nurses Association when, without notice to the union, it closed a subspecialty unit dealing with elective surgery for ten days over the December holiday season and unilaterally reassigned non-probationary nurses to other units, Arbitrator William C. Heekin held. He found that the management right to direct the nursing force applied, since the CBA contained no express restriction of that right—the article on seniority-based rights upon closure of a unit did not apply as it did not “result[] in the loss of employment,” and the “critical need” ...