Hospital Workers

Nurses Working Together at Clinton Memorial

Clinton Memorial Hospital (nursing unit) recently won a huge victory in settling a class action grievance that was scheduled to go to arbitration. The employer had decided to make the hospital a no-smoking campus, which negatively affected smokers because they had to punch out in order to go off campus and smoke. However, a compromise was reached in which employees will be allowed to be off campus on the adjacent sidewalks or in their cars without punching out so that they will still get paid just like before. This case took considerable time to resolve and truly demonstrates the determination and power of union members coming together to fight for their rights. Great job by Steward Jeanne Byrd in helping make this happen!

Member Organizer Trainings Making a Difference

After nearly winning union representation last year, a group of member organizers at the Detroit Medical Center is ready to win in 2010.  Members who recently attended the National Organizing Conference in D.C. are bringing home the tools they learned and gearing up for victory.

“The training was intense, the days were long, and the message was inspirational and now I have the knowledge, tools, and support that I need to organize new members”, said Shaji Thomas, a member organizer at DMC. 

Like the national conference, Member Organizer Boot Camps will give workers the tools they need to gain a voice in their workplace. “The bosses are trained on how to keep the union out, now we’re getting the training to get the union in,” said Shaji. “I would say to other members that want to organize, let us help you do it and lets win together”.