Hundreds of people have signed an online petition criticizing Baltimore-based Chase Brexton Health Care for firing five managers amid efforts by doctors and other medical staff to form a union.
Leaders with 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East filed a complaint against Chase Brexton with the federal Labor Relations board Wednesday accusing the company of using the firings to intimidate those seeking to organize.
A petition started by Sam Williamson on the website change.org asks Chase Brexton to rehire the employees and to stop interfering with workers' rights to unionize.
"Right now, CEO Richard Larison and the executive team of Chase Brexton are failing our communities" the petition said.
By early afternoon, nearly 500 people had signed.
Chase Brexton has declined to discuss the firings and union-organizing efforts.
But in e-mails obtained by the Baltimore Sun, Larison urged employees to oppose the union in an upcoming vote for the union to represent them.
"We believe after everyone weighs both sides and has the facts, you will agree with us that you do not need a third party to represent you, and you will vote "NO" on August 25th," Larison wrote in the email "We will get through this process together, and come out of this stronger as an organization and continue to be committed to providing quality health care for our patients."
Also Friday, several groups representing the concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people issued a statement denouncing Chase Brexton for its actions. While Chase Brexton serves all people, its roots are in serving the LGBTQ community.
"As LGBTQ focused organizations across Maryland, we are deeply concerned that the termination of key Chase Brexton staff members may result in deteriorated trust from the communities we serve," the groups said in a statement. "Since its inception, Chase Brexton has been the primary provider of health care to low-income LGBTQ Marylanders, and their staff has been an integral part of ensuring access to care for LGBTQ people and their families. We are committed to working with Chase Brexton to earn back the trust of the LGBTQ community."
The groups that signed the letter include: Baltimore Transgender Alliance, Black Trans Advocacy, Maryland/DC Chapter, Baltimore Trans-Masculine Alliance, The Center for Black Equity in Baltimore, FreeState Justice, Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, Baltimore Chapter, Gender Rights Maryland, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore and Central Maryland, Hollaback! Baltimore, Sean Lare Counseling & Consulting, Sistas of the "T" and TransAAction Maryland.