Danbury Hospital

Heeding the Warnings of a Care Catastrophe

Thu, 01/12/2023 - 3:30pm
Members of AFT Connecticut-affiliated local unions representing health professionals are raising awareness of dangerous conditions in their hospitals, clinics, school and community-based facilities. Danbury Nurses Union Unit 47 member Amanda Hutchins Warren, RN (in photo, below) in a recent opinion piece called out her employer's role in fueling a worsening patient care crisis. As chair of her facility's staffing committee, she also urged a more "holistic approach" than individual unit fixes:
 

Speaking Out for Essential Workers Who Risked it All

Fri, 03/26/2021 - 1:30pm
Local and state union activists and leaders earlier this month turned-out in record numbers to advocate for themselves and fellow frontliners impacted by the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) crisis. The occasion was a legislative public hearing held by the Connecticut General Assembly's committee that oversees employment policies and practices. Joined by members of allied labor organizations, they took a strong stand to demand restitution for their sacrifices and preparation for the next pandemic.
 

"Winning a Better Future for More Working People"

Tue, 07/30/2019 - 5:30pm
Veteran labor activists in both the private and the public sectors will attest to significant challenges in winning initial and first successor union contracts. AFT Connecticut-affiliated locals secured such collective bargaining agreements, arbitration awards and memoranda of understanding over the past three months. We're highlighting two of these important victories, which demonstrated how member engagement and internal organizing can overcome steep obstacles and make meaningful gains.
 

Credit and Training for Making Workplace Progress

Thu, 05/30/2019 - 3:30pm
AFT Connecticut's professional development (PD) has over the past three months offered more than a dozen career advancement, worksite safety and union leadership development workshops. The variety of course offerings has been diverse, with several led by accredited experts while others were presented by local union members who had completed prior "train the trainer" sessions. They all shared in common our state federation's commitment to furthering a "grow-your-own" capacity-building model for this valuable benefit.
 
Click here for our previous PD program report.
 

Meeting Members' Workplace Well-Being Needs

Fri, 02/15/2019 - 3:30pm
AFT Connecticut's professional development (PD) department each fall surveys members of affiliated unions to determine the career advancement and labor leadership courses that would be most relevant and beneficial. The feedback drives a program empowering PreK-12 and higher education professionals, nurses and healthcare staff, and state and municipal employees to make tangible improvements in their work lives. Stress reduction and self-care emerged from the latest results as common goals shared by our diverse membership.
 

Mobilizing to "Protect Our Freedom to Negotiate"

Wed, 02/28/2018 - 6:30pm
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard oral arguments in a corporate-funded lawsuit aimed directly at public employees across the country. That afternoon in Connecticut, union members gathered at simultaneous demonstrations to show the case's backers that working people aren’t backing down. All this took place as our state federation's leaders moved forward a plan to build greater strength for the future, regardless of the high court's ruling.
 

Demonstrating Solidarity in Professional Development

Fri, 02/09/2018 - 7:00pm
Among the many benefits enjoyed by members of AFT Connecticut-affiliated unions is the opportunity to participate in career-relevant training, specialized education and advanced professional learning courses. Our state federation has in recent years increased the variety of topics, boosted the frequency of sessions, and expanded access to all of our diverse constituencies. To that end, leaders with distinct knowledge and unique skill sets have been tapped to serve as presenters for an increasing number of workshops.
 

Advancing the Fight for Safe Hospitals and Health Facilities

Sat, 06/03/2017 - 10:00am
As advocates build on progress in achieving safe staffing levels in Connecticut hospitals, community clinics and school-based health centers, a bill setting national standards has been introduced in Congress. Federal lawmakers last month raised legislation ahead of national Nurses Appreciation Week that promises to save lives and empower nurses to nurture their patients. Union members who have long fought for appropriate staffing ratios see the bill as progress that promises greater workplace safety and improved patient outcomes.
 
Click here to urge your members of Congress to support the proposal.
 

Caregivers Win National Standard to Reduce Workplace Violence

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 11:30am
The U.S. labor department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) earlier this month took a major step toward protecting the nation's healthcare and social assistance workforces. The agency's assistant secretary accepted a petition urging the development of a federal standard for reducing workplace violence submitted last summer by a coalition that includes our national union.
 

Fighting Forward for Patients, Celebrating Our "Everyday Hero"

Tue, 08/02/2016 - 5:30pm
Delegates from across the nation last month at our national union's biennial convention took action on several key resolutions designed to help improve the quality of patient care in America. The event also featured a highlight with special meaning for the nearly 100 members attending from Connecticut; the presentation of AFT's "Everyday Heroes" award to one of our very own.
 
Syndicate content