For Immediate Release
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
AFSCME - UNA Salute America's Nurses: Leading Fight to Protect Nurses Voice at Work
WASHINGTON —The United Nurses of America (UNA), the nursing arm of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, salute the work our nation's 3.5 million nurses do to provide quality patient care to all Americans and announce plans to fight to protect nurses' right to join a union.
"As nurses, we face many challenges — mandatory overtime, a nursing shortage and inadequate staffing ratios, but we consistently deliver quality care and advocate for our patients," said Kathy Sackman, RN, UNA co-chairperson.
AFSCME's top priority in the coming months is fighting the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) all but certain decision against nurses, on the so-called "Kentucky River Case," which would classify millions of nurses as supervisors, thereby exempting them from union eligibility. The NLRB is expected to rule on whether certain employees who hold a minimum amount of authority in the workplace should be considered supervisors under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Under the NLRA, supervisors do not have the legal protections available to other workers and can be disciplined or fired for supporting the union.
"Any NLRB ruling that takes away our rights to be in a union also strips us of our voices to speak up for our patients," said Bonnie Marpoe, LPN, UNA co-chairperson. "National Nurses Week is the perfect time for us to continue the fight for quality patient care and exercise our right to belong to a union."
AFSCME represents more than 60,000 nurses in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
