New charges of unfair labor practices have been filed against Dimensions Healthcare System for its intimidation and coercive tactics against employees on April 16, the day that nurses and caregivers picketed outside of Prince George's Hospital Center, Laurel Regional Hospital and Glen Ridge Medical Center in Maryland.The charges, filed on May 8, are that Dimensions "interfered with, restrained and coerced employees" in a manner that violated their rights under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. That section stipulates that employees have the right to engage in acts, such as an informational picket, "for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection."The picketing action took place after nearly a year of contract negotiations and after Dimensions made a final proposal that would continue to put safe staffing at risk, destroy the collective bargaining agreement with 1199SEIU, and offer only a one percent wage increase."Instead of staying at the bargaining table and negotiating in good faith, Dimensions decided to put up barriers for employees to exercise their labor and free speech rights," said Jennifer Foster Epps, vice president of registered nurses for the union's Maryland-DC region.1199SEIU, which represents 1400 nurses and caregivers at Dimensions facilities, charges that Dimensions violated employee's labor rights with several actions on April 16, including:• Designating employees in the Facilities Department as emergency workers that day so they could not leave the premises to participate in picketing during their break or lunch.• Attempting to have police remove picketers at the Glen Ridge Medical Center.• Imposing a rule that employees had to punch out if they left the building for breaks on lunches.The new charges were added to previous charges against Dimensions of not bargaining in good faith. The two sides met at the bargaining table with a mediator on May 13 but there still is no contract agreement.Members of 1199 at Dimensions maintain an online presence at DimensionsCanDoBetter.org.- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/maryland_caregivers_charge_dimensions_healthcare_with_unfair_labor_practices#sthash.A4djnoKy.dpuf