Unilateral Freeze of Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Please complete case 7-2 "Unilateral Freeze of Defined Benefit Pension Plan".

Remember to fully answer questions with significant detail and support your answers with course concepts or outside references.

1. Did the hospital violate Article 19, Section 12 ofthe labor agreement when it unilaterally implemented a pension plan freeze effective January 2, 2010? Explain your reasoning.

2. If the hospital’s action did violate the parties’ labor agreement, what would be an appropriate remedy for the violation?

3. If you were a manager representing the hospital, would you recommend that the hospital file a bad faith unfair labor practice charge against the union over its refusal to engage in mid-term bargaining over the proposed pension plan freeze? Why or why not?