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AFT Connecticut
AFT, AFL-CIO
For Release:
June 1, 2015
Contact:
Matt O'Connor,
860/221-5696
[email protected]
“Overwhelming Majority” of Healthcare Workers in
Danbury, New Milford Hospitals Urge
Immediate Negotiations
Service, environmental, maintenance and other vital patient care providers at both acute
care facilities file for union election, present ‘mission statement’ to hospitals’ president
Danbury - Healthcare professionals on Friday called on the president of
Danbury and New Milford Hospitals to commence negotiations over decisions
impacting care for their patients and working conditions for themselves. A group
representing approximately 800 service, environmental, maintenance and other
patient care providers at both facilities at a ‘town hall’-style meeting presented
their ‘mission statement’ to President Daniel DeBarba.
Healthcare
Higher Education
Public Employees
PSRP
Teachers
35 Marshall Road
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
860/257-9782
Fax: 860/257-8214
Toll Free: 888/398-3373
www.aftct.org
Melodie Peters
PRESIDENT
Stephen McKeever
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
"The overwhelming majority of us support coming together and our future
looks much brighter,” said Anna Princiotti, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at
Danbury hospital. “I know the corporation that runs our community hospitals
has big plans and with healthcare workers negotiating alongside the nurses and
techs, we can help make sure our patients always come first,” said Princiotti, a
New Milford resident with 28 years experience at the acute care facility.
Princiotti’s comments refer to the relationship between the Western
Connecticut Health Network (WCHN) and the unions representing the
registered nurses (RNs), medical technicians, clinicians and licensed practical
nurses (LPNs) at both hospitals. The healthcare workers in early May publicly
announced their free choice to unite in AFT Connecticut, the labor federation
that includes three local unions representing nearly 1,000 of their colleagues.
“Now is the time for healthcare workers to come together - housekeepers and
emergency room techs and unit coordinators,” said Rafael Soto a CNA on the
8th floor of Danbury Hospital’s Tower building. “This hospital works because we
do, and it is time for us to have a say in our own future," said Soto, a Danbury
resident with six years of patient care experience at the facility.
Soto’s comments refer to the free and fair democratic process that AFT
Connecticut is pursuing in order to assure the legal protected rights of the
healthcare workers are upheld. The labor federation on Thursday filed a request
for a secret ballot election for the bargaining unit with the National Labor
Jean Morningstar
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Ed Leavy
SECRETARY-TREASURER
VICE PRESIDENTS
Erin Benham
Dennis Bogusky
Joanne Chapin
Ron Chivinski
David Cicarella
Shellye Davis
Patti Fusco
David Hayes
Jan Hochadel
Keith Inrig
Andrea Johnson
Laila Mandour
Patricia Mitchell
Chuck Morrell
Joella Mudry
Karen Prendergast
Randall Prose
Harry Rodriguez
James Romano
Kathleen Sanner
Martha Shoemaker
Susan Truglio
Relations Board (NLRB) at the agency’s Hartford regional office. Under new
rules governing union elections, the NLRB must schedule a hearing for June 5 on
AFT Connecticut’s petition.
“I was proud to stand with the healthcare workers at the town hall meeting,”
said RN Mary Consoli, president of the Danbury Nurses Union, Unit 47, AFT
Local 5047. “They tried to deliver their message to Mr. DeBarba but he wouldn't
even touch it. It's a shame these workers are being denied the same level of
respect that nurses earned decades ago,” said Consoli.
Consoli’s remarks refer to DeBarba’s refusal at Friday’s town hall event to
acknowledge the healthcare workers’ mission statement and his failure to
respond to their request to commence negotiations. Management at both
Danbury and New Milford Hospitals have for more than a month engaged in
coercion, harassment and intimidation designed to suppress their healthcare
workers’ protected legal rights. AFT Connecticut has filed multiple unfair labor
practice (ULP) charges with the NLRB over illegal conduct by WCHN and the
anti-union consulting firm the non-profit network has retained.
AFT Connecticut, the largest union of acute care health professionals in the state,
represents approximately 725 registered nurses and 260 technicians, clinicians and
licensed practical nurses at Danbury and New Milford Hospitals. Follow the
labor federation on Twitter at @AFTCT and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/aftct.
###
Attached -“We are Danbury Hosp. & New Milford Hosp. Healthcare Workers”
Mission Statement
We are Danbury Hospital & New Milford Hospital Healthcare Workers!
We are the Healthcare Workers at Danbury and New Milford
Hospital. Healthcare workers are in every department and on
every shift. We have come together to help build a better
hospital. Healthcare workers provide the largest percentage of
direct patient care in a hospital but we also work behind the
scenes making sure supplies are stocked and beds are clean. We
see every corner of our hospitals and we know there are ways to
improve the care our community receives.
We are prepared to be an active partner with management and
to work together to improve conditions for workers and patients.
The Registered Nurses have had their union since 1973. The LPNs,
Technical Professionals, and Therapists have just formed their
union. The history of our organization is one of workers
collectively working with management to improve the quality of
care. It is time for the Healthcare workers to join in that tradition.
Forming a union of our own is the best way to make sure we are
not forgotten or ignored. Together we
will work to create this union, and we
invite all of our coworkers to stand
beside us!
Estamos hospital de Danbury y Nuevo Hospital
de Milford Profesionales de la salud !
Nosotros somos de trabajadores de salud en los hospitales Danbury y Milford. Estamos en cada
departamento y cada horario. Nos nos para levantar un mejor hospital. Los trabajadores de salud
proven la mayor parte del cuidado directoa los pacientes en un hospital, y también trabajamos
fuera de escenas en las areas de apoyo, para estar seguro que tenemos reservas, y que las camas
esten limpias. Nosotros podemos ver cada parte del hospital y conocemos la manera que
podemos mejorar la asistencia que nuestra comunidad recibe.
Estamos preparando y queremos ser compañeros con el hospital, trabajando juntos y mejorando
las condiciones de trabajadores y pacientes. Los enfermeros registrados se unieron en el sindicato
en el 1973. Los enfermeros licenciados, técnico profesionales y terapistas tienen poco tiempo en
el sindicato. Nuestra historia es que juntos, la organización y el hospital trabajamos para mejorar
la calidad de asistencia a la comunidad. Hoy es tiempo que los trabajadores de salud sean parte
de esta tradición. Formando nuestro propio sindicato es la mejor manera de asegurarnos de ser
olvidados ni ignorados. Juntos, trabajamos pare formar nuestro sindicato, e invitamos a todo los
trabajadores a unirse con nosotros.