DC Nurses Plan Organizing, Support Local Families

The DC Nurses Association wrapped up the summer with both an internal and external focus. On August 25th, DCNA leaders and staff gathered for an organizing training class (below). Organizing Directorsfrom the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Michigan Nurses Association, North East Nurses Association and the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute provided lessons and plans for the development of a DCNA organizing plan. Of particular interest was the presentation from Nela Hadzic at the North East Nurses Association, who described how organizing campaigns in Pennsylvania over the past 18 months have increased membership in the Pennsylvania Nurses Association to 8,000. “Attendees at the training committed to serve on an organizing committee with the goal to increase organizing at our own hospitals and institutions and to unionize nurses in the DC area,” reports DCNA Executive Director Ed Smith. Then on August 31st, DCNA leaders donated $500 to the Montgomery Housing Project (MHP) to assist families affected by the gas explosion in the Flower Branch apartments.

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