RNs to Hold Press Conference Near St. Rita's on Tuesday to Denounce Hospital's Undemocratic Election

Registered nurses will hold a press conference on Tuesday to voice concerns about what they call a sham, undemocratic and uncontested election being held Wednesday at St. Rita’s Medical Center.

When:       Tuesday, March 11
Time:        11 a.m.
Where:     NE corner of W. Market and S. Collett
                 near St. Rita's emergency room entrance

The National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association is sharply criticizing a deal between Catholic Healthcare Partners and the Service Employees International Union that would impose SEIU as the company's hand-picked union for RNs and other hospital employees.

In a statement today, blasted the deal "for compromising the democratic rights of the nurses and other employees and even endangering public safety standards in the hospitals." NNOC/CNA has 80,000 members in all 50 states, including Ohio.

The election was called, by an employer petition, without a single employee indicating support for SEIU, and without allowing the RNs and other employees any choice on who they wish to represent them.

More than 4,000 RNs have sent protest e-mails to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops calling the deal "highly offensive. Not only does this decision deny registered nurses the right to determine which union represents us, it also is an affront to the largest female profession in healthcare."