Labor & Employment Law

1,600 Washington Nurses Join National Nurses United

By Mike Hall

By a better than 15-1 margin, the 1,600 registered nurses in Washington, D.C.?s largest hospital, Washington Hospital Center (WHC), voted to join National Nurses United (NNU) this week. The nurses have been in the independent organization Nurses United of the National Capital Region will now be a part of NNU.

Last week, WHC management unilaterally imposed restrictions on nurses? ability to advocate for their patients by eliminating a labor-management patient-care committee, as well as significant wage and benefit cuts on the nurses.

Stephen Frum, RN, who has been the lead negotiator for Nurses United, said the recent action  by management has shown

tremendous disrespect for the registered nurses and a callous disregard for the needs of our patients, and the hospital?s latest move only adds insult to injury. We have already experienced significant turnover of nurses here?more than 220 RNs have left since the beginning of the year?because of the working conditions and management?s failure to address these issues inevitably will have a negative impact on patient care.

The nurses say the NNU affiliation will give them a stronger voice in contract talks and additional clout in fighting to improve patient care and RN standards in the district. Says Frum:

The overwhelming decision by the Washington Hospital Center nurses to join NNU sends a strong signal to management that we?re prepared to fight back?for the sake of our patients, our families, and our community.

NNU Co-President Jean Ross, RN, says the WHC nurses ?have demonstrated an outstanding record of advocating and fighting for their patients and withstanding a sharp attack from their employer.”

We are committed to assisting their effort to win a fair and just successor contract and to building the voice of direct care RNs in Washington and across the nation.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on October 08, 2010 (boomark / email).