Thousands of nurses at Washington Hospital Center walked out on strike yesterday to demand that MedStar address patient safety at the hospital. The nurses – members of National Nurses United -- have been raising serious concerns about safe staffing and clinical practices but Washington Hospital Center RN Mindy Blandon says “we have received no serious response from hospital executives.”
The nurses – joined by local labor, community and religious allies -- picketed and rallied in the freezing rain, saying they’re fed up with being ignored, and insisting that patients’ lives are at stake. They staged the 24-hour strike to try to force hospital managers to negotiate about issues of health, safety, and equity. The nurses plan to return to work this morning, even though the hospital has threatened to lock them out for an additional nine days. Go to dclabor.org to see a short video and sign a petition to show your support. Here’s today’s labor history: On this date in 1908, officers of the American Federation of Labor were found in contempt of court for urging a labor boycott of Buck's Stove and Range Company in St Louis, where the Metal Polishers were striking for a 9-hour day. And in 1970, construction workers topped out the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 1,368 feet, making it the tallest building in the world. Today’s labor quote is an old African proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.
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