Hundreds of workers at Howard University Hospital say they are planning a one-day strike on April 11 to protest underpaid wages.
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Hundreds of workers at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC, say they are planning a one-day strike next week over complaints about low wages.
The District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA), the labor union representing more than 300 nurses, pharmacists and social workers, says workers are understaffed and underpaid – and as a result, they are require a fair contract and safety staff to protect the patient.
The union argues that nurses and other licensed healthcare professionals working at the hospital have also been understaffed throughout the pandemic.
The strike is scheduled for April 11 at 7:30 a.m., according to DCNA.
Nurse Jeanette Ethridge said: “Treating us with dignity and respect really helps. “Allowing us to maintain our financial dignity reflects respect. Providing enough staff that we can care for our patients the way they deserve care reflects respect.”
In one alphabet sent last week, the union notified Howard University president Dr. Wayne Frederick and Howard University Hospital CEO Anita Jenkins of the upcoming strike.
Edward Smith, the union’s chief executive officer, told DCist / WAMU that union members fully support the strike and expect all employees to participate.
“It’s hard for people to say, ‘I’m on strike,'” Smith told DCist/WAMU, especially in the healthcare sector, given the serious nature of the quality of care we give our patients. “We want to make it clear to management that this matter is important enough for our members to strike.”
The university’s union and hospital have been involved in negotiations since last July, as a collective bargaining agreement. Expires in November; spurred months of negotiations between the two sides.
According to DCNA, the hospital management left the negotiating table in mid-February after the management made their final offer.
Immediately after walking away, the union said 13 Faith Leaders from across Washington, D.C., sent a letter to the university’s principal asking him to negotiate a fair contract. Frederick did not respond to the letter, according to the union.
Smith told DCist/WAMU: “Leadership has left the negotiating table despite our efforts to convince them that there are still some issues to be negotiated. “Because they refused to come back to the bargaining table, we really had no choice but to call a one-day strike.”
Howard University did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for comment Tuesday.
News of the hospital’s strike plan comes after the university made headlines last month after members of the faculty threat of attack complaints about unfair working conditions and wages.
Howard University administrators and the union representing the faculty, the Service Employees Association International (SEIU) Local 500, have reached the three-year target Agreement to negotiate fairer working conditions, prevent strikes.
The treaty is expected to be elected by union members Second, according to faculty members.
