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Public
Employee Press Hospital
workers demand dignity and respect
Members
of Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420, with the support of locals 299, 372
and 1549 and City Council member John Liu, rallied in front of Harlem Hospital
June 24 to demand dignity and respect for its employees.
The rally was
sparked by the verbally abusive behavior of a manager at the hospital toward union
members, which continued for several months.
We are not going to
tolerate this behavior, said Local 420 President Carmen Charles at the lunchtime
rally. Our members have fought long and hard for dignity and respect for
themselves and their patients. We will not be shortchanged! she said.
Veronica
Montgomery-Costa, president of DC 37 and Local 372, and Local 1549 President Eddie
Rodriguez joined in the protest and expressed their solidarity with Local 420s
hospital workers.
We expect respect. And if people cant be
respectful, then they have to go, said the Local 372 president.
We
stand behind Local 420 because we are a family, and nobody is going to mess with
my family, said Rodriguez.
Several meetings between the union and
management have taken place since the June rally to address the issue. Management
has agreed to assign the manager to attend a series of training sessions beginning
in September.
We are the backbone of Harlem Hospital, said
Charles. We live and work in the community and our members must be shown
the respect they rightfully deserve. | |