Tentative Agreement for Howard University Hospital Workers

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)After over 18 months without a contract, AFSCME Local 2094 members at Howard University Hospital finally have a tentative agreement. Members had been picketing the hospital with support from DC Nurses Association (DCNA) (“DCNA Calls on Howard University to Resume Negotiations with AFSCME”, UC 2/13/2012), whose contract at Howard expired a year ago. With a strike imminent, hospital management came back to the table with wage increases for the 1,000 Local 2094 members made possible by changes to Medicaid funding at the hospital that will bring in almost $10 million more to the hospital annually ("Medicaid boon, union deal boost Howard University Hospital", Washington Business Journal). Negotiations continue at DCNA, which is hopeful that the increased hospital funding will mean a fair contract. “It certainly impacts their bargaining position” DCNA Staff Attorney Ed Smith told the Journal. “Hopefully they’ll do the right thing and make sure nurses are compensated in a way that allows them to be retained.” Local 2094 expects to vote on the new contract in the coming week. - photo of 2/15/2012 Howard University Hospital picket by Julia Kann