Howard University Hospital Nurses Hit Street Against RIFS

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Janice Bashorun has been a clinical nurse for 38 years. On Thursday, despite trouble with her legs that requires a special walker, she found herself walking an informational picket line in front of Howard University Hospital (HUH), chanting “Nurses care for patient safety!” with dozens of other DCNA and NNU nurses and their supporters as passing traffic honked support. “This is not what I want to be doing,” said  Bashorun (center, in purple shirt). “I did not come to work today to be standing out here, but if they push you out on the street that’s where you’ve got to go.” DCNA was protesting HUH’s decision to implement a reduction in force (RIF) that they say violates their contract. “RIF from the bottom up,” said Bashorun, who’s served on the DCNA Executive Board for 25 years. “It makes no sense to RIF 30-year nurses. It affects everyone in the hospital (and) it just doesn’t work. It’s always about the patients; the only reason I work is because I care about my patients. Our patients know us by name; it’s personal for them and for us.”
- report/photo by Chris Garlock