Nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center strike Monday

allnurses Guide · Dec 23, 2014

... "We have raised serious concerns about safe staffing and clinical practices but we have received no serious response from hospital executives," MedStar Washington Hospital Center nurse Mindy Blandon said in a statement last week.
At issue Monday and throughout negotiations were nurse concerns surrounding staffing levels, unsafe conditions and pay. National Nurses United represents the registered nurses at the hospital and has been negotiating with the hospital to replace a contract that expired in November...
MedStar nurses strike at Washington Hospital Center - Washington Business Journal

toomuchbaloney · Dec 23, 2014

so if the nurses strike one day the hospital will cause them to remain off the job for a total of 10 days? How do they justify this?

allnurses Guide · Dec 24, 2014

It seems to me that the hospital has the funds and available nurses to staff appropriately. They are wasting tome and resources by refusing to negotiate enforceable safe staffing. In my opinion.

... The hospital announced employees who did not arrive for work Monday will not be allowed to return until Jan. 1 because replacement nurses have been brought on through a 10-day contract. Strike participants will not be eligible for holiday pay, according to the Post report...
MedStar nurses strike at Washington Hospital Center - Washington Business Journal

GrannyRRT · Dec 24, 2014

If you watch the strike job boards you will find strikes are prearranged by the hospital and the union long before it is announced. The 10 days part is no surprise to the union either. It takes considerable planning to arrange for housing, transportation and security. Those arrangements are often made through union contacts with other union employees. I look at strikes like the wrestling programs on TV. You know most are scripted but you still play along.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2014

so if the nurses strike one day the hospital will cause them to remain off the job for a total of 10 days? How do they justify this?

Because they have to retain services of agency nurses that staff strikes. Most agencies that staff strikes, require a minimum set period, often 10 days or 1-2 weeks. Otherwise, it is not financially viable to staff a strike and supply staff. So if staff strike 1 day or longer, the facility still have to pay fees to the strike agency nurses. Might as well use them and prove a point.

toomuchbaloney · Dec 25, 2014

Because they have to retain services of agency nurses that staff strikes. Most agencies that staff strikes, require a minimum set period, often 10 days or 1-2 weeks. Otherwise, it is not financially viable to staff a strike and supply staff. So if staff strike 1 day or longer, the facility still have to pay fees to the strike agency nurses. Might as well use them and prove a point.

Oh right, I forgot that they have to meet the needs of the scabs during the strike. Thanks for that reminder.

ak2190 · Dec 25, 2014

So this is why they're always, ALWAYS hiring for the same positions. Hmm. At the hospital I previously worked at, many of the staff were former employees of what they called "Deathstar Washington Hospital Center".