Nurses "Fight For Our Rights" In 1-Day Strike At WHC Today

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“We’re fed up. The nurses are tired. We’re going to take a stand,” says Lori Marlowe, a 12-year veteran nurse in the cardiac unit and a member of the negotiating team for the more than 1,600 nurses at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Nurses at D.C.’s largest hospital -- who are represented by National Nurses United (NNU) – walked out on a 1-day strike this morning at 7A. A major noontime rally at Irving and First streets will be addressed by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and other labor, community and religious leaders, who will link this struggle to the ongoing battles in Wisconsin for collective bargaining rights. Washington Hospital Center is part of the MedStar Health chain, based in Columbia, Maryland, and last year made $142 million in profits. “This is the time to stand up,” said Marlowe. “We have to fight for our rights. This is what collective bargaining is all about, being able to stand up for what you believe in. We believe that our patients deserve better care than what they’re getting at the hospital.” Watch our website and follow DCLabor on Twitter for updates today! - Pete Tucker, The FightBack.org NOTE: Buses are leaving from the AFL-CIO at 11:30A (returning approximately 2P); RSVP to Scott Reynolds sreynold@aflcio.org to reserve a seat.