The DC City Council late Tuesday night tabled the controversial bill that would fast-track construction of a new hospital east of the Anacostia River. The decision to postpone the vote to December 18 came after the Council approved amendments that would ensure that operators of the new hospital honor existing labor contracts at United Medical Center and transfer nurses and other health-care workers from UMC to the new hospital. They also passed an amendment protecting Howard University Hospital, which officials say is threatened by the proposed GW Hospital deal. “Although there is more work to do, labor, hospital workers and the community are, for now, spared a decision that would hurt all of us,” said DCNA Executive Director Ed Smith on Facebook.