On Thursday Feb 24th UW nurses conducted a historic informational picket. During a freezing cold evening several hundred nurses and community supporters demonstrated to the UWHCA board that nurses wanted the board to do the right thing and voluntarily recognize the nurses union at UW Hospitals and Clinics.
Labor radio spoke with Kate Walton a UW nurse for six years in the emergency department and on the organizing committee for the union and with Tammy Burns, a nurse in vascular progressive care unit for five years and also on the committee.
The informational picket was timed to align with the hospital board meeting to demonstrate to the board the depth of sup[port for voluntary recognition. But there were also other objectives. Tammy Burns explains.
The nurses have had several significant public demonstrations showing support for voluntary recognition. Now they must decide how to take this support and bring the Hospital to the point where it recognizes the union. To get to this point the nurses are intensifying their internal discussions, bringing each idea back to nurses on each unit for discussion- and eventually a decision.
That was Kate Walton and Tammie Burns emphasizing that Thursday’s informational picket is the first of what will be a series of actions.
Listeners who wish to support the nurses can go tosupportuwnurses.org
Reporting Courtesy of Frank Emspak
Image Courtesy of Chali Pittman/Wort News
