PROHIBIT SPENDING OF HEALTH CARE DOLLARS ON UNION BUSTING

WHEREAS, private sector hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities receive monies from public funding such as Medicare, Medicaid, in addition to income from patients and insurance companies; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of such funding is to pay for the quality care provided; and

WHEREAS, private sector health care employers are using patient care dollars to hire expensive management consultants to run anti-union campaigns to prevent their employees from organizing. At Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, in New Jersey, the employer’s anti-union campaign cost over $500,000; and

WHEREAS, private sector health care employers have used patient care dollars to pay for out-of-state nurses to work as strike breakers. At Jersey Shore Medical Center in New Jersey, the hospital paid each strikebreaker $2,000 per week plus expenses in an effort to break the union of registered nurses; and

WHEREAS, it is recognized by our society and federal laws that workers have a right to organize and seek representation in the workplace:

WHEREAS, employers are using patient care dollars for the purpose of denying health care workers the right to collectively bargain:

RESOLVED, that FNHP/AFT support health care reform legislation that prevents the use of patient care funds for anti-union campaigns.

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers support lobbying efforts to prevent use of state and federal monies to support union busting.