Strike Continues at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital

[Omaha Steve]

Source: nbcconnecticut.com

Hospital administrators plan to lock out striking workers until a new contract agreement is reached.

Nurses and technicians at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London went on strike in the pouring rain Wednesday after their unions and the hospital failed to reach an agreement.

About 800 nurses and technicians walked off the job Wednesday after weeks of contentious negotiations. It was the first strike in 100 years. The strike is expected to last until Saturday, but hospital officials said they plan to lock out striking workers until a new contract is reached.

On Tuesday, the unions notified the hospital that workers would begin to strike at 6 a.m. Wednesday, according to officials at Lawrence and Memorial. And strike they did, heading into the pouring rain to protest the transferring of their jobs.

Union officials said the hospital has been laying off union workers and shifting work from Lawrence and Memorial to shell corporations that operate clinic outside of the hospital setting.

FULL story and video at link.


Read more: http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Nurses-to-Strike-at-Lawrence-and-Memorial-Wedneday-Unions-Hospital-233527521.html

[femmedem]

1. I walked the picket line on Thanksgiving and yesterday.

I'm not a union worker, but I live in New London and support the nurses and technicians. The crowd was huge Thanksgiving and yesterday. Many elected officials showed up in support, including the governor, Senator Blumenthal, Congressman Courtney, state reps, the mayor and councilors.

Management still says they'll lock out the returning workers tonight. L+M has $216 million in the bank--operating capital for 215 days--, low debt, an A+ rating from Fitch. They are opening nonunion affiliates to do the same work union workers have been doing, and outsourcing work to them.