Latest news with #ElaineLujan
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Judge rules UNM hospital in Rio Rancho violated union's rights
A judge has sided with a union representing workers at the University of New Mexico's Sandoval Regional Medical Center in Rio Rancho, finding the employer violated the union's legal right to bargain. Second Judicial District Court Judge Elaine Lujan's seven-page order issued Tuesday upheld an opinion from the Public Employee Labor Relations Board that the hospital "breached its statutory duty" by refusing to bargain with the United Health Professionals of New Mexico about a reduction in force after the union submitted a formal demand. It also faulted the hospital for failing to respond to requests for information about the reduction in force and implementing unilateral changes to working conditions for employees in the bargaining unit. The union framed Lujan's decision as a "significant legal victory" in a news release Wednesday. 'This ruling should shut the door on the hospital's campaign to avoid bargaining in good faith and silence its workers," Regina McGinnis, a physical therapist and president of United Health Professionals of New Mexico, said in the release. She added, "Its refusal to follow basic legal obligations under labor law is not only unethical but dangerous for workers and the patients they serve.' Chris Ramirez, a spokesperson for UNM Health System, wrote in an email to The New Mexican that the organization "respects the recent decision." "UNM Hospital is committed to working with its labor partners to ensure that it fulfills its mandate to the community by providing high-quality patient care," Ramirez wrote. "UNM Hospital looks forward to continuing this dialogue with its labor partners." The Public Employee Labor Relations Board ordered UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center to recognize and bargain with the union immediately on "wages, hours and all terms and conditions of employment." It also required the hospital halt all violations of the Public Employee Bargaining Act — which in New Mexico dictates the rights of unionized public employees, their employers and the state Public Employee Labor Relations Board — and post notice of its past violation for 30 days, with a promise of compliance in the future. United Health Professionals of New Mexico is currently reviewing the board's remedies to "determine whether the employer has complied or whether further legal action is required," the union said in the news release. However, McGinnis said she remains concerned about UNM Sandoval's compliance. "This is a public hospital, funded by public dollars, and there must be public accountability," McGinnis said. "Healthcare workers deserve more than empty apologies and legal delays. They deserve respect and a lawful seat at the table."
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Judge approves temporary pause on cannabis testing lab's license
Feb. 14—A licensed cannabis testing laboratory accused of transporting marijuana across state lines and falsifying data has been ordered to cease operations — at least temporarily. A state district judge this month approved a preliminary injunction against Bluebonnet Labs, meaning the business can no longer operate under any of its licenses issued by the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department until a formal hearing with state regulators takes place. Judge Elaine Lujan of the 2nd Judicial District Court also ordered the Cannabis Control Division, under the purview of RLD, to notify all cannabis manufacturers, producers and retailers to cease the sale and distribution of products certified by Bluebonnet Labs, located in Albuquerque. Jacob Candelaria, an attorney representing Bluebonnet Labs, told the Journal on Friday that the business ceased operations in December and doesn't admit any fault. "To our clients, this is really a bad joke. This is completely unfair," Candelaria said. "It's mind-boggling how the agency can give approval to a licensee and then turn around and go after them like this." The move to halt Bluebonnet Labs' testing capabilities comes as the Cannabis Control Division has ramped up enforcement in an industry that has been dealt a blow by illicit operators. Since 2023, the CCD has rapidly increased its enforcement, with the division's inspectors conducting more than 2,200 inspections as of October, RLD Superintendent Clay Bailey told a legislative committee at the time. For comparison, the CCD conducted 138 inspections in 2022 — the first year of adult-use cannabis sales. A provision in the law that went into effect in 2023 allows licensing agencies such as RLD to seek preliminary injunctions if licensees engage in activities that pose an immediate threat to public health and safety. The first business to have a preliminary injunction filed against it was Sawmill Sweetleaf, an Albuquerque-based retailer, in August 2023. The business' license was revoked by regulators just three months later. Andrea Brown, a spokesperson with RLD, told the Journal on Friday that the division has filed six injunctions against licensees — one of which was withdrawn following a settlement and another four that were granted by the court. One is still pending, she added. The division has revoked 12 licenses since April 2022, though none of the licenses it has revoked were for testing labs, Brown said. Asked if CCD is pursuing a full license revocation against Bluebonnet Labs, Brown declined to comment, citing "the ongoing administrative process with the licensee." A notice of contemplated action was initially filed against Bluebonnet Labs in early January, accusing the company of nearly a dozen violations, namely that it was sending certificates of analysis of tested samples from Texas — where it is based — to New Mexico. Other violations, according to the notice, included the company listing the incorrect address for where cannabis testing was being conducted, not properly documenting sampling and testing information in the state's track-and-trace system, and changing its testing laboratory processes and instruments without gaining CCD approval. Besides having to cease operations temporarily, Bluebonnet Labs has to submit to a CCD inspection at its Texas lab within the month, likely to check for traces of New Mexico cannabis material, according to the order. Candelaria said Bluebonnet Labs tested cannabis for potency at its Albuquerque lab. But he said the business had sent cannabis to be tested for pesticides at its Texas facility, with a former CCD director and division staff giving a "green light" to the deal. "Our clients with the full knowledge and approval of the CCD shipped samples of cannabis — this is cannabis product typically mixed with some sort of chemical solvent — to be tested for pesticides in Texas," he said. "Now the agency has gone after my client's license and their reputation, and their ability to make a living." Bluebonnet Labs is one of about half a dozen active testing laboratories in New Mexico, according to the Cannabis Control Division. Its listed address, where CCD alleges the company "did not conduct cannabis testing," is in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights, near Montgomery and Pennsylvania. Bluebonnet Labs received its license from the state about two years ago, with company officials touting plans for locations in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Dallas-based Bluebonnet's expansion into New Mexico's cannabis industry even gained the support of Local Economic Development Act, or LEDA, funds from the state, which had pledged $100,000 to the company in 2022. But a state Economic Development Department spokesperson told the Journal on Friday that the company "never finished the (LEDA) application," which could have yielded Bluebonnet the funding for its expansion.
