​The DC Nurse’s Association and Howard University Hospital reached agreement on a new contract after marathon bargaining sessions in late October. The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by the DCNA/HU-HUH membership of approximately 400 nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and social workers. The contract “has financial gains for every one of our members and importantly, we were able to ensure fair working conditions,” said Eileen Shaw (4th from left), chairperson of the DCNA/HU-HUH bargaining unit. Average base salary for DCNA members will increase by 11.75% over the 3-year contract, and DCNA also succeeded in making the hospital’s attendance policy less punitive and more flexible. The union’s membership demonstrated solidarity by signing a petition on the attendance policy, wearing t-shirts in non-patient care areas and coming to the DCNA office to voice concerns.

Georgetown graduate workers wasted no time resting on their laurels. Just hours after an overwhelming majority – 555-108, or 83.7% in favor -- voted in the union on November 9, the Georgetown Alliance of Graduate Employees delivered their Intent To Bargain letter. “See you at the table Georgetown! #ReadyToBargain” said GAGE on its Facebook page. 

Management at DASH, the city-owned transit company in Alexandria, agreed to back off on their anti-union campaign after strong pressure from the labor movement and political allies. DASH had hired a notorious union buster in response to their drivers joining the transit worker union. “DASH management did the same thing in 2008,” ATU Director of Field Mobilization Chris Townsend says. “The workers at DASH want this harassment to stop. DASH workers want a fair union election with no management interference.” A delegation of union leaders and local elected officials plans to visit the DASH garage today “to determine whether the City is abiding by their announced stand-down from their anti-union campaign, and for us to begin to repair some of the damage done by the company’s anti-union consultant as well as their own anti-union behavior,” Townsend told Union City. “The antidote to anti-union and anti-worker bigotry is to not practice it in the first place, but this is our chance to set the record straight, late as it may be.” DASH drivers and their supporters plan to pack a DASH board meeting this Wednesday in Alexandria (see Calendar); the election is on Thursday. 

Whether fighting to preserve the integrity of the Department of Veterans Affairs or handing an economic lifeline to returning service members, the labor movement is fighting every day for those who committed themselves to service.
“We’re seeking to bridge the gap between military and civilian life, helping those who served our country apply the unparalleled leadership and technical skills they learned in the military to a good union job once they’re back home,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka at a Toys for Tots kickoff earlier today. “Serving our veterans is just one way the labor movement is making an impact in our communities.”
You can be a part of that effort. This Veterans Day, stand with us and speak out on the issues that impact us most. Demand more from politicians and corporations than a lapel pin or catchphrase. Together, we can win the fair economy and just society that millions of veterans have fought and bled for.

Kitchen Table Economics: 1.2 million: The number of working veterans represented by unions.

You can drop off toys at the AFL-CIO through Friday December 14th; contact Lisa Ford at 202-756-4625 or [email protected]