Labor & Employment Law

Snowmageddon NNU Nurse Wins Job Back

By Mike Hall

Geri Lee, an RN and member of National Nurses United (NNU) is one of several Washington Hospital Center Nurses who was fired for being unable to get to work after snow storms paralyzed the area with more than 40 inches of snow in February.

But yesterday, Lee won her job back after an arbitrator ruled that she was fired ?without just cause,? NNU?s Stephen Frum told the Washington DC Metro Council?s e-newsletter Union City. Says Frum:

We all look forward to seeing Geri Lee back on the job? The union will continue to pursue justice for the other nurses unjustly fired and disciplined for absence during the snow storms.  Together we win.

Following the snowstorm firings and attempts by hospital management to impose significant wage and benefit cuts and abolish a labor-management patient-care committee, the nurses began organizing with NNU. They had been in the independent organization, Nurses United of the National Capital Region.

In October, the 1,600 nurses voted to by a 15-1 margin to become part of NNU.  In November, the hospital agreed to recognize the workers? choice.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on December 21, 2010 (boomark / email).