Howard University Hospital and the D.C. Nurses Association have reached an accord after nine months of a labor dispute.
Both parties said the accord approved Thursday will help advance patient care and gives nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and dieticians additional resources to perform their duties as well as increased compensation and benefits.
“It was only through efforts and collective action of our members, with support from the community, that we were able to achieve agreement on a fair and equitable contract that recognizes our hard-working healthcare professionals and their commitment to caring for patients who come to [Howard University Hospital] for care,” said Edward Smith, the nurses’ association’s executive director, in a news release, WUSA-TV (Channel 9) reported.
The accord was reached after nurses petitioned hospital management for a fair contract, picketing by workers in January, and a 24-hour strike in April.
Anita L.A. Jenkins, the hospital’s chief executive officer, praised the accord, saying it “continues our shared goal to value the hard work of our [nursing union] members and will go a long way to advance patient care by demonstrating a firm commitment between the union and the hospital’s management,” WUSA reported.
