DC Nurses See Power In New National Union

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

The recent formation of the largest nurses’ union in the country has local nurses enthusiastic about the potential for big changes here and across the nation. The California Nurses Association, the United American Nurses, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association merged in December to form National Nurses United (NNU), with a combined membership of 150,000 members.. The DC Nurses Association, a Metro Council affiliate and member of the new union, is excited by the prospects a united front could bring workers in the area. “It gives us more power,” said DCNA Executive Director Herman Brown. “You get a stronger voice and you get more people listening on Capitol Hill. You get the power with the numbers.” DCNA is currently planning its legislative agenda for this year; top priorities include the Employee Free Choice Act and healthcare reform. With the formation of a larger union, “We have a stronger voice because we have more nurses,” Brown told Union City. “Basically, now we can say that we speak for nurses. We represent the most nurses in the country. It makes a big difference.” - Paddy Lehane, Union City reporter; photo courtesy NNU