Nurses Prepared For Battle At Washington Hospital Center

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Washington Hospital Center is at it again. On Tuesday, the hospital fired three more nurses for missing work during last month’s record-breaking snowstorms, bringing the total number of fired workers to 14. “I think this is an attempt to weaken or destroy the union,” says Stephen Frum, chief shop steward with Nurses United. While the workers were officially fired for missing their shifts during the storms, many of the workers and their supporters say the firings have more to do with upcoming contract negotiations. “They’re saying ‘We’re going to fire a bunch of people here and make you look weak right before negotiations,’” says Frum, who adds that the nurses and their union have been under fire from the hospital for some time. This week’s firings, which garnered front-page coverage in The Washington Post, have generated much-appreciated support from the local labor community, says Frum. “It’s been wonderful to feel the support of the labor community,” said Frum. “We’re gratified to have that support.” Despite the hospital’s hardball tactics, the nurses are prepared for the fight. “We’re going to fight it,” said Frum. “But we do have a very difficult negotiation coming up and we may need some more help. If this is the beginning of it, it could get very ugly.” - reported by Paddy Lehane; photo: fired WHC nurse Geri Lee, who tried to get to work for an hour and a half one day during the storms; photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post