Update on Mandatory Influenza Shots
Washington Hospital Center (January 26, 2010)

It is with great displeasure that I (Daniel Fields Jr.) must inform you that we have not been successful in preventing the Washington Hospital Center (MedStar) from enforcing it’s Mandatory Flu Shot policy.   Monday, January 25, 2010, I was involved in a conference call with our lawyer and the counsel for our International Union on the actions that we could take to prevent WHC from enforcing this policy.  It was their learned opinion that we would not prevail in getting a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop this action.

This does not mean that we have stopped our fight.  The reason that we have not yet proceeded to arbitration is WHC is refusing to honor the language in our mutually negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement.  We are currently reviewing the options that we have to force WHC to arbitration, but these options will not be viable until after the WHC stated deadlines.  Due to the fact that at this time we are unable to prevent you from being placed in an unpaid status for not taking this shot, we encourage  you to  take the necessary action to protect  your employment.  For those of you who do not take the shot and is subjected to discipline in any manner by WHC, the Union will file a grievance on your behalf.  The grievance will request that you receive all monies and benefits lost due to this violation by WHC.

Some workers have questioned why the Union is fighting this policy.  They view this policy, as does WHC, as a patient safety issue.  Our objection is not the vaccination itself, but the fact that WHC is refusing to honor the Collective Bargaining Agreement that it mutually negotiated with the Union, by refusing to go to arbitration, and letting an arbitrator decide if they can indeed arbitrarily  implement a mandatory policy.  If we allow them to do this without an objection, think of what they may arbitrarily do in the future.

Also, unlike Children’s, which by the way is not making the flu shot mandatory, WHC did not discuss or negotiate with  us alternatives to taking the shot, such as the wearing of masks, or reassignment to fewer susceptible patient areas.  As a matter of fact, the MedStar related facilities appear to be the only ones taking this mandatory position.

Again, our fight will continue and we will continue to keep you up to date on this issue.  As always, you can call the Union office for more information and advice.

Flu Vaccine mandate arbitration update (11/5/09)

Since my (Daniel Fields Jr.) last update to you concerning the mandatory flu shot, the Washington Hospital Center has taken the position that the issue of the flu shot is not arbitrable.  In a recent letter to me, the hospital has taken the position that, “it does not believe that its patient care policies are subject to the arbitration process and does not agree to schedule this matter to arbitration.” Due to WHC’s current position, this issue has been forwarded to our lawyer, Mr. William King for processing.  Mr. King has contacted WHC with the Union’s position, of which a copy is on the back of this document.  It is the Union’s position that WHC is trying to prolong the adjudication of this issue as long as possible to intimidate as many workers as it can to take the flu shot prior to the deadline of December 4, 2009.  In fact, many of you have informed me of some of the scare tactics your supervisors are using to get you to take the shot prior to December 4, 2009. -more-

DC’S GOT LABOR:
September 4, 2009

From parades to picnics, sermons to talk shows, area workers are celebrating Labor Day across the metro region this weekend. Labor activists, workers and their families area are gearing up for the 2009 Labor Day holiday with almost a dozen celebrations scheduled in the Metro DC area. Activities begin this morning with radio appearances - Council President Jos Williams (above, left) appears on Gloria Minott’s show on WPFW and then on the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU - and then tonight Labor on the Bimah observances kick off the annual Labor in the Pulpits, on the Bimah and in the Minbar event, this year bringing together a record 70 churches, synagogues and mosques to focus on worker justice. Jews United For Justice’s Labor Day Community Havdalah & Dessert Reception takes place at 8P Saturday and on Sunday many area congregations will address worker issues, including SEIU Senior Legislative Advocate Peter Pocock’s service on “spirit at work” at the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church. Activities conclude on Monday with several parades and picnics, including the Baltimore-area Labor Day Parade at 9A and the Northern Virginia Labor Federation’s annual picnic starting at 1P. - photo: Channel 8's Bruce DePuyt (r) interviews Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams for his Labor Day show; photo by Chris Garlock

SEIU 722 Announces new scholarship Winners

Every year the SEIU Local 722 Education Committee offers scholarships to our members and also the dependants of our members. -click for more info-
 

Sign up for the SEIU new Mobile Alerts
you to know first ...

When SEIU endorses a candidate in your backyard.

When your Senator or Congressman needs to hear our voices on the health insurance reform, employee free choice, or immigration debate.

When our members -- your brothers and sisters -- require support at the workplace, the state capitol, or in the streets.

Sign-up right now to receive mobile alerts from SEIU.

Click here to Register

Executive Board Nomination Meeting for All Executive Board Positions

The meeting for all Executive Board Positions is coming up on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 2:00pm until 5:00pm.  For more info click here.

July 1, 2009 an overwhelming majority of Children's Hospital SEIU Local  722 Members voted by 95 % to accept new contract.

At the conclusion of a marathon twenty (20) hour bargaining session, SEIU Local 722 and Children's National reached a tentative agreement on a new contract Saturday morning June 27th.

We want to publicly thank our bargaining committee for thinking outside the box when confronted with difficult choices.  To see the overview of the agreement just click here.

National News
COURT BACKS WORKERS IN E-MAIL CASE:

It took nine years, but workers at the Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard newspaper finally won the right to use company e-mail to discuss union business. In a sharply worded ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that the company did not break federal labor laws in 2000, when management disciplined the president of The Newspaper Guild-CWA (TNG-CWA) Local 37194 for using the company’s e-mail system to send three e-mail messages about Guild business. The messages were sent after work hours. The Guild filed unfair labor practice charges, but the then Bush-dominated NLRB sided with the company regarding two of the e-mail messages. The appeals court overturned that ruling. TNG-CWA President Bernie Lunzer applauded the ruling, saying “The court’s decision made it clear that the company had discriminated based on union activity. I was at the Court of Appeals when Michael Zinser presented his case, and a jury of kindergarteners could have seen through it. He tried to argue that the union was a special case and could be barred from communicating by company e-mail, even though everyone else was allowed to use it freely.”

Click here for full story                                                                             Click here for court ruling

 AFRAM Leadership Conference was held in Washington, D.C.

The 2009 National Leadership Development Conference convened April 17-19, 2009 in Washington, D.C.  The gathering was held in the Nation's Capitol within the first 90 days of President Barack Obama's administration, a such.  The primary focus was related to politics, legislation and history.  Not only did AFRAM engage in efforts to enact the Employee Free Choice Act and the National Healthcare Reform, they also showcased the unique national treasures located in the the District of Columbia.--more--