National Nurses United

NewsBriefs_MArch 2011 3/17/11 9:26 PM Page 4 NEWS BRIEFS DC Nurses Strike for Patient Safety, Fair Contract WASHINGTON, D.C. R egistered nurses at Washington Hospital Center, the largest facility in the nation's capital, went on a one-day strike March 4 to protest employer MedStar Health Systems' failure to address the RNs' serious concerns over understaffing and patient safety, as well as the corporations' takeaway proposals at the bargaining table. The hospital responded by locking out nurses for an additional four days, ultimately spending $6 million on temporary staffing and security, according to a March 11 Washington Post article. "We have called this strike because we want to ensure that this hospital is safe for our patients," said Jessie Ruehl, an emergency room RN at the hospital. "Our moral, ethical, and professional responsibility is to advocate for our patients, and we intend to do just that." Ruehl went on to explain that due to the chronic understaffing, nurse turnover is a major problem at Washington Hospital Center, with 1,300 nurses leaving since 4 N AT I O N A L N U R S E proposed changes in the nurses' compensa2005. Currently, National Nurses United tion structure that would result in a pay cut of represents about 1,650 nurses at the facility. as much as 25 percent for some nurses, and a At 7 a.m. March 4, nurses gathered in the loss of up to half of paid days off. bitter cold on the picket lines in Ingrid Toussaint, a 32-year RN front of the hospital, chanting Hundreds of Washingwho has worked at WHC for a and waving signs reading, "On ton Hospital Center decade, said that she cannot face strike for safe patient care," and RNs cheer during their such a drastic loss in income as even a handwritten sign saying, strike rally March 4 she approaches her retirement "I am a safe nurse. I can't be at years. "We save lives," said TousWHC." Nicole Combs, an ICU saint. "We just want fairness and the ability to RN of six years at Washington Hospital Cenadvocate for our patients and ourselves." ter, spent hours on the road in front of the Many of the nurses were surprised by the hospital letting nearly every car that stopped intense security presence at the hospital for the traffic signal know exactly why the nurses were striking. "This is for you, sir," said during the strike, complete with yellow "crime scene" tape used to cordon off the Combs to one driver who nodded his head in area where nurses were picketing. approval. "This is for you and your family." On Wednesday, the nurses marched back At noon, the nurses rallied with the help into work as a group, resolved to continue of some notable guests. Congressman Dennis Kucinich stopped by to show his support with their bargaining and actions to presof the nurses, as did Richard Trumka, presi- sure MedStar to make the improvements needed for them to take care of their dent of the AFL-CIO. "They want more and patients and themselves. "We are all DC more and more work from you and give you nurses today," said Karen Higgins, a Massaless and less to do it with," said Trumka. "I chusetts RN and a copresident of NNU, at believe in what you stand for today. I come the rally. "I represent more than 160,000 from a long line of caregivers. I understand nurses across the country who stand with your issues are our issues." you today." —Donna Smith Besides the understaffing, MedStar has W W W. N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G MARCH 2011

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