Public Employee Press

"Stand up for your rights!"
Local 420 protests management abuse at hospital

A loud and fired up crowd of Hospital Employees Local 420 members held a lunchtime demonstration Oct. 7 to demand dignity and respect from Lincoln Hospital.

"Respect the union! Respect the members! Respect the contract!" shouted Local 420 President Carmen Charles. "You will not disrespect us and get away with it! We are going to stand up and not give up!"

Charles called the rally - and brought out the giant inflatable rat - to protest management's mistreatment of Lincoln Hospital's dedicated unionized employees who provide vital care to patients.

Local 420 leaders said Lincoln managers use dirty tactics to skirt the contract and pressure workers, all the while daring them to file grievances.

Leaders charge that Lincoln Hospital managers are heavy-handed on disciplinary actions, lie on evaluations, regularly over-schedule workers -which may violate state health codes - deny workers their vacation time, and threaten, bully, retaliate against and verbally abuse Local 420 members. Members said at least one manager threatened the Pharmacy staff saying, "Go to the rally and see what happens."

"We gather in solidarity to say HHC cannot abuse or mistreat us! We are sending a zero tolerance message to those who think they can undermine, belittle or mistreat us," said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido.

Many local presidents and leaders from DC 37, the Doctors Council and union activists from Woodhull, Harlem, Seaview, Coler, and other worksites gathered near the hospital's Morris Avenue Emergency Room entrance to support Local 420's lunchtime action.

"An injury to one is an injury to all," Charles said. "Don't take the union for granted. Management asks us to do more with less again and again. And we still do our jobs because we care about the patients and community."

Buoyed by passersby and drivers honking their horns in support, Local 420 members cheered and sang Bob Marley's protest song "Get Up, Stand Up!"