The 1,400 nurses and caregivers at Dimensions Healthcare System in Prince George’s County have voted to ratify a new three-year contract that guarantees at least a six percent salary increase, caps work shift cancellations and insures that the $655 million hospital planned for the county will be a union shop. “We fought back and defeated an attempt to shut out employees who have sacrificed for Dimensions to survive and to be able to build the new hospital,” said John Reid, executive vice president of the Maryland-DC region of 1199SEIU. “We are partners for quality care in the county and the new hospital cannot happen unless we are a part of it.” Registered nurses at Providence Hospital in the District of Columbia, will hold a one-day strike on Wednesday, November 12 to protest the hospital’s refusal to address critical issues of health and safety concerns for patients and nurses as symbolized by inadequate Ebola preparedness. The walkout is part of a national day of action by National Nurses United in 14 states as well as the District of Columbia that will highlight the demand of NNU for all hospitals to put in place stronger Ebola safety measures. Click here to sign a petition telling President Obama and Congress to mandate hospitals protect nurses and healthcare workers... Workers at TW Perry are threatening to walk off the job at the local contractor supply dealer. “We’re holding off at the request of the mediator,” says Teamsters 639 Business Agent Bill Davis, “but the guys are really fed up with the company’s failure to bargain in good faith.” OK, so you've researched the candidates and figured out which ones are the best for working families (click here for the Metro Washington Council’s list of endorsed candidates). And you've either voted early or made a plan to vote. But you just don't feel like you've done enough to make sure that Tuesday's election doesn't turn into a nightmare scenario where Republicans shut down the government or take away workers' rights. Click below to find out what else you can do... |