Union leaders and activists made the following public remarks regarding authorization of the action in response to the health network's unfair labor practices:
"During these long months of negotiations, we have made it clear that patient safety is our top priority," said Windham Federation of Professional Nurses President Andrea Riley, RN. "Not only have the network's lawyers refused to present fair proposals, management has broken federal workplace laws in the middle of a care crisis. That's not how health industry leaders who value safe patient care should behave," added Riley, a registered nurse in Windham Community Memorial Hospital (WCMH)'s emergency department (ED).
"Strike captain" Karla Beckert, RN, said, "our community should expect better from Hartford HealthCare's executives and lawyers. Provoking nurses to strike shows us their lack of respect both for their patients and their employees. We're hopeful a settlement can be reached but we are prepared to walk off the job if that's what it takes," added Beckert, a registered nurse in the Greer Unit.
"As nurses, we take our roles as patient advocates seriously," said strike captain Pam Purcell, RN. "Our contract proposals aren't just about us as employees. Safe patient limits and investing in retaining skilled nurses are vital for our community, too," added Purcell, a registered nurse in the ED.
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The Windham Hospital Federation of Professional Nurses, AFT Local 5041, represents approximately 100 registered nurses at the Hartford HealthCare (HHC)-owned Windham Community Memorial Hospital (WCMH) in Windham and its partner medical facilities. The local union is a leading force for assuring quality, affordable care for their community and demanding a health system for the nation that puts patients before profits.
Link - 10-days Notice to Strike for Windham Federation of Professional Nurses, AFT Local 5041
For Release: September 12, 2022
Contact: Rosemary Picarelli, AFT CT - 860/989-5641, rpicarelli@aftct.org