Fla. Nurses Vote NNU, Health Care Workers at VA Choose AFGE
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Registered nurses at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Fla., last night overwhelmingly voted—86 percent—to join National Nurses Organizing Committee-Florida, the state affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU). Earlier this month, AFGE signed up 700 medical professionals at the Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) Edward Hines Jr. Hospital in Hines, Ill.
Key issues for the 500 Palmetto nurses include a stronger voice in patient care protections, improved staffing and strengthened economic and workplace standards for RNs. RN Ailen Leiva called the win “a clear mandate by Palmetto RNs who see an urgent need to improve quality of care.”
Rose Campbell, an intensive care unit RN at Palmetto, says:
I am looking forward to bargaining for improved staffing, which will decrease turnover. We need to recruit and retain experienced RNs in order to provide the safest patient care possible.
AFGE, VA Sign First New Contract Since 1997
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The more than 200,000 workers who give first-class care to our nation’s sick and wounded veterans signed a new collective bargaining agreement yesterday with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The new master agreement between AFGE and the department is the first contract since 1997 and took eight years of negotiations to complete. The new pact strengthens AFGE’s working relationship and partnership with the VA and enhances working conditions for VA’s employees.
AFGE President John Gage said:
This is a morale booster for our employees. A good contract behind our workers gives them the incentive to do their best work.
