September, 08 2009, 09:38am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Chuck Idelson, 415-559-8991 or
Shum Preston, 415-412-0825
1,200 Nurses Make a House Call to Dianne Feinstein To Demand She Cosponsor Employee Free Choice Act
Unionized Nurses Save Lives
SAN FRANCISCO
1,200 registered nurses representing every state in the union
will make a house call to Dianne Feinstein this Wednesday at
1:00 p.m. to demand she become a cosponsor of the Employee Free
Choice Act. The nurse action will come as part of the
California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing
Committee national convention.
The nurses will leave a rose with a personalized note at the
senator's residence in San Francisco telling their stories of
being intimidated and harassed by management in their efforts to
win recognition for their union--and the toll that such
union-busting can take on patient care. The nurses charge
that the current labor law system is broken and serves to
prevent RNs from exercising their right to unionize.
"In the past, Senator Feinstein has said she supported the
bill, but appears to be wavering. 1,200 RNs are making
this house call to let her know that employers are trying to
silence us when we advocate in facilities, and that patients end
up paying the price for this union-busting. Employers are
breaking the law in their harassment of nurses, and we deserve a
free choice and a fair chance to speak up for ourselves," said
Deborah Burger, RN, co-president of CNA/NNOC.
"Studies have shown that unionized nurses save lives, reduce
turnover, and increase caregiver morale in facilities.
That would be good for any hospital--and every patient,"
Burger continued.
WHAT: 1,200 RNs leave roses & notes
demanding Sen. Feinstein sponsor labor law
reform
WHERE: Senator Feinstein's residence,
2460 Lyon Street in San Francisco
WHEN:
Wednesday, September 9 at 1:00 p.m.
FOLLOWED
BY: Nurses rally outside Feinstein's office, One Post
St., at 2:00 p.m.
National Nurses United, with close to 185,000 members in every state, is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in US history.
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