National Nurses United

NewsBriefs:March alt 2 4/22/09 3:53 PM Page 10 WRAP-UP REPORT Illinois CNA/NNOC RNs from around Illinois descended on Springfield March 24 alongside doctors and community activists to support state Rep. Mary Flower's introduction of HB 311, a single-payer, Medicarefor-all healthcare reform bill. RNs rallied on the Capitol steps and mobilized so much enthusiasm for the bill that, in an unprecedented show of support, 37 representatives including the speaker and majority leader, signed on as cosponsors. The next day, RNs marched again to the Capitol and delivered petitions with more than 700 RN member signatures urging legislators to support pending House and Senate staffing ratio bills, HB 485 and SB 224. Energized, RNs stopped by the Illinois Hospital Association offices and presented the group's chief lobbyist with their signed petition demanding that IHA support the ratio bills. Maine registered nurses from Houlton Regional Hospital represented Maine at a rally before the White House Regional Forum held in Burlington, Vt. Nurses, doctors, and patients called on the White House for guaranteed healthcare based on the singlepayer model. "It is difficult to be a nurse who is a true patient advocate when navigating though Chicago RNs (top) rally for guaranteed healthcare in Springfield, Ill., while Maine RNs (middle) protest outside a White House forum in Vermont to put single-payer on the table. Texas RNs Juan Martinez, Kelly Miller, and Beverly Leonard (bottom) during a lobby day for ratios in Austin. our healthcare system leaves so many without the care they need," said Tammy Farwell, a Houlton Regional Hospital RN. "It is not fair that the insurance industry makes millions each year in profits while care is becoming harder and harder for Maine families to afford." Maine RNs will also be gearing up to pass a state single-payer bill, LD 1365, that's just been introduced. "What we are doing here will influence and impact the debate nationally," said Cokie Diales, an RN from Bangor who works at Eastern Maine Med- ical Center. "Single-payer might end up enacted in a few states first, and then spread across the nation, which is the approach that worked for Canada." Ohio on march 18, CNA/NNOC in Ohio made news with the opening of its first office in Ohio, just weeks after announcement of its partnership with United American Nurses and the Massachusetts Nurses Association in a new national nurses union. Nurses and friends from the health activist community shared refreshments at the new office and then held a meeting of the Greater Cleveland Metro Group. The agenda included discussion of their ratio tracking project and plans to escalate their campaign for the Ohio Hospital Patient Protection Act. —staff report Federal Judge Orders FremontRideout to Bargain CALIFORNIA I n an uncommon strike against a particularly harsh union-busting employer and a case study of why workers need Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, a U.S. District Court judge in April ordered FremontRideout Health Group to return to the bargaining table, negotiate with its RNs, and recognize CNA/NNOC as their union representative. RNs with the Northern California hospital system, operating two facilities in Marysville and Yuba City north of Sacramento, voted to join CNA/NNOC in 2006, but their employer has since then waged a steady campaign to break up the union by refusing to bargain a first contract, targeting RNs supporting CNA/NNOC, legal maneuverings, and encouraging efforts to decertify the union. Over the years, RNs have managed to stand strong and resist these tactics, even recently almost staging a bake sale to raise money to replace worn medical equipment for their hospitals. Eager to avoid bad press, Fremont-Rideout at the last minute agreed to purchase new equipment. The health system's violation of federal labor law over the years were so egregious, however, that the National Labor Relations Board filed suit against it. The NLRB asked the court to issue a "10( j)" order, which is the strongest weapon in the arsenal of the board, to force Fremont-Rideout to "cease and desist" its union-busting activities. "This is a landmark victory for FremontRideout RNs," said Pushpa Latta, an RN working at the Rideout campus. "We have been fighting for our patients from the beginning. This relief from the United States District Court will help us finish our contract and improve patient care standards." The case of Fremont-Rideout is a classic example of why workers need Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, federal legislation that would make it possible for employees to organize through a simple majority of signed cards and would also require employers to bargain in good faith toward a first contract or face arbitration. —staff report APRIL 2009

• Cover