John: Please take a moment to read this urgent update and take action.
- Dyana Forester, President, Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO

Tomorrow, July 21, the DC Council will vote on the New Hospital at St. Elizabeth's Act of 2020. This new hospital will replace UMC, and we cannot allow union jobs to be replaced with unprotected, non-union ones.

The legislation undermines the ability for workers at the new hospital to have good, union jobs. We cannot allow this happen. The current workers at UMC are currently represented by 1199 SEIU and DCNA. Right now, these workers are caring for COVID-19 patients, are risking their lives and jeopardizing the safety of family. They deserve better.

This is our last chance. We have to act now. Contact Chairman Mendelson and Councilmember Trayon White today!

Council Chairman - Phil Mendelson - 724-8032; pmendelson@dccouncil.us
Councilmember Ward 8 - Trayon White - 724-8055; [email protected]

What to say: Our health care heroes cannot be left out of the plan to build a new hospital on the St. Elizabeths Campus. Councilmembers, add labor peace language to the bill during the second reading on July 21st to ensure that healthcare workers are not left behind.

Background: New Hospital at St. Elizabeths Act of 2020 does not provide that the current union contracts will be recognized which means, the benefits, seniority, pay and more by UMC's existing healthcare heroes will NOT be guaranteed at the new hospital. Even more insulting, UMC healthcare workers will have to be trained before the hospital will consider hiring them. Additionally, UHS is an anti-union employer that has been cited multiple times for failing to respect the rights of unionized workers to organize and bargaining in good faith with the unions.

This is completely unfair to the healthcare professionals who have dedicated their careers to caring for Ward 7 and 8 residents to be ignored in the new hospital deal. During this pandemic, UMC nurses and techs have worked in very dangerous working conditions, with limited resources, and this is the thanks from the Mayor.

Join us in solidarity with 1199 SEIU and DCNA today!

Elizabeth Falcon
DC Jobs With Justice
Executive Director