Public Employee Press

Hospital workers demand dignity and respect

Members of Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420, with the support of locals 299, 372 and 1549 and City Council member John Liu, rallied in front of Harlem Hospital June 24 to demand dignity and respect for its employees.

The rally was sparked by the verbally abusive behavior of a manager at the hospital toward union members, which continued for several months.

“We are not going to tolerate this behavior,” said Local 420 President Carmen Charles at the lunchtime rally. “Our members have fought long and hard for dignity and respect for themselves and their patients. We will not be shortchanged!” she said.

Veronica Montgomery-Costa, president of DC 37 and Local 372, and Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez joined in the protest and expressed their solidarity with Local 420’s hospital workers.

“We expect respect. And if people can’t be respectful, then they have to go,” said the Local 372 president.

“We stand behind Local 420 because we are a family, and nobody is going to mess with my family,” said Rodriguez.

Several meetings between the union and management have taken place since the June rally to address the issue. Management has agreed to assign the manager to attend a series of training sessions beginning in September.

“We are the backbone of Harlem Hospital,” said Charles. “We live and work in the community and our members must be shown the respect they rightfully deserve.”