U.S. Representative Judy Chu Joins RNs to Speak on Settlement Significance

Nurses, elected leaders and community members will hold a press conference at Huntington Hospital today at 10:30 a.m. to celebrate a recent milestone settlement agreement between California Nurses Association (CNA) and the hospital.

“This press conference is a chance for the nurses to publicly express what a big victory this settlement is for all of the Huntington RNs, who stood strong through a campaign of intimidation by Huntington administration,” said Malinda Markowitz, RN and CNA Co-President.

Per the terms of the settlement—which came just days before a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) trial was scheduled to begin—Huntington agrees to rescind the terminations of RNs Allysha Almada Shin and Vicki Lin and pay them full back pay. Huntington also agrees to set aside the results of the 2015 Huntington RN union election, and move forward with a new election—and to abide by labor laws that protect the RN's right to organize. 

Wednesday’s press event will feature RN speakers (including Almada Shin), U.S. Representative Judy Chu, Executive Director of National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) Pablo Alvarado and members of NDLON, and CNA national director of organizing David Johnson. Also present will be Hector Rodriguez on behalf of California State Assemblymember Chris Holden, and Vannia De La Cuba on behalf of Pasadena Councilmember Victor Gordo.

“This settlement is such a milestone—not just for me and Vicki, as we receive our full back pay and have our terminations rescinded—but also for all the RNs who work at Huntington to feel empowered, moving forward, knowing their voices cannot be silenced,” said Almada Shin. "Although I have decided to decline returning to work at Huntington—having since found a job at Keck USC, a hospital where RNs are protected through their CNA contract—I will be speaking out at this press conference, and generally doing everything I can to support my former colleagues as they seek to win their own union protection.”

• What: Huntington RNs, Community Press Conference
  
• When: Wednesday, June 29, 10:30 a.m.
  
• Where: Huntington Memorial Hospital, 631 Pasadena Ave., Pasadena, Calif.

As part of the settlement, an official NLRB notice, outlining the nurses’ organizing rights, has been posted throughout the hospital and emailed to all RNs. The notice makes it clear that under federal law nurses have the right to "form, join, or assist a union," and the right to engage in activities related to that at the hospital. The notice also includes commitments by the hospital to refrain from interrogation and surveillance of employees engaged in union activity and to cease unlawful interference with union access to the hospital. After a 60-day posting period, the new election will be set by the NLRB.

“I know with every fiber of my being that what happened to me was completely wrong, unjust and illegal. With the support and guidance from CNA and my friends and family, I was able to regain my power,” said Lin. “What happened to me is the perfect example of why Huntington nurses need to stand together and not allow the hospital’s administration to continue to devalue their nurses.”

“Huntington nurses are speaking out this week to let the community know how much we appreciate the support that led to this agreement, which protects our right to organize on behalf of our patients,” said Terri Korell, RN, an ICU nurse at Huntington for nearly 43 years. “It was a tough road, but we feel vindicated—and ready to move forward as the empowered patient advocates that our community deserves.”

Huntington Memorial RNs began organizing to affiliate with CNA/NNU in May of 2014, after management rebuffed their attempts to engage them on patient care issues, including chronic short staffing, inadequate supplies and equipment and concerns about hygiene and sterilization practices at the hospital. Management responded with an illegal effort to thwart unionization. Despite being issued a formal NLRB complaint—citing over twenty instances of unlawful conduct—management continued its pattern of union-busting up through the RNs’ attempted election in April of 2015.

An administrative law judge for the NLRB was slated to review the numerous objections to the 2015 election as well as other unfair labor practice charges at a trial in Los Angeles scheduled for June 6—avoided due to the settlement.