National Nurses United

O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 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 N A T I O N A L N U R S E 7 CALIFORNIA R esisting heavy-handed pres- sure by hospital managers, regis- tered nurses at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center in Alhambra, Calif. voted Jan. 5 to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United. The final count was 60-52 in favor of CNA, with the election covering some 200 Alhambra RNs. "I am proud of my colleagues for voting in favor of joining CNA," said Alhambra RN Farah Gerami. "It is a clear mandate that the nurses want to improve quality of patient care at Alhambra, including to improve staffing and retain experienced RNs. Management should honor the outcome and stop violating the right of the nurses to union representation." In the days leading up to the vote, Alhambra management engaged in a number of heavy-handed tactics intended to intimidate RNs into voting against the union, nurses say. Those include threatening disciplinary actions as well as sustained and repeated harassment against CNA supporters; threats of wage cuts and loss of health benefits and work hours; and even closure of the hospital if nurses voted for the union. CNA has filed unfair labor practices charges with the NLRB. Alhambra Hospital is part of Southern California-based AHMC Healthcare. CNA already represents the RNs at two other small AHMC hospitals, San Gabriel Valley Medical Center and Whittier Hospital Medical Center. RNs at Alhambra are seeking wage parity with other AHMC hospitals, a stronger voice in patient care conditions, and a contract that requires the hospital to comply with the state's mandated nurse-to-patient ratios law to protect patient safety. Alhambra is the most profitable hospital in the AHMC system. Overall, AHMC reported over $80 million in profits the past five years. "We commend the courageous vote of the RNs to join CNA in the face of enormous pressure, including repeated violations of labor law protections," said CNA Co-Presi- dent Malinda Markowitz, RN. "They are a model for nurses everywhere." —Staff report NATIONAL A llysha shin, a young RN leader who has served as an inspiring role model for nurse and worker activism after she was illegally fired in 2015 from Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif. for helping organize a union there, has won the Kate Mullany Courageous Young Worker Award, an honor bestowed by the pro-worker and pro-labor Berger-Marks Foundation. The foundation established the award to recognize women aged 35 or younger who have stood up for workers' rights and organ- ized their own workplaces in the face of overwhelming opposition. The award is named for Kate Mullany, a young laundry worker who, more 150 years ago, organized one of the first women's unions when she was just 19 years old. Shin will be receiving the award in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 9. Despite being unjustly fired from a hospital with which she has very close, personal ties – not only was she born at Huntington and grew up volunteering there, her mother works there and the family dog serves as a therapy pet – Shin persevered in fighting for the rights of her RN coworkers to unionize and still supports them in their organizing campaign. She has participated in numerous events on workers' rights, and even presented President Obama with an engraved stethoscope reading "Listen to nurses" as part of a White House summit on worker voice. "I am hoping that by winning this award, my coworkers and peers at Huntington, and all workers out there trying to unionize can have some hope and know that people do recognize the fight that you have to go through and the struggle you have to go through," said Shin, who currently works in the neuro intensive care unit at Keck Medical Center USC. "People need to know how important it is for us to keep continue fighting for what's right and for justice. There are other people out there like us, we need to come together and support each other." —Staff report Young RN leader wins organizing award Alhambra RNs vote yes to union

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