Blog

DC nurses cheer contract, celebrate back pay due to them

Certify Our Contract NowDistrict of Columbia nurses working for United Medical Center celebrated a huge win in April when the DC Council unanimously passed a resolution ratifying a contract that awarded nurses nearly $4 million in back pay for raises due to them dating back to 2014. The contract corrected pay disparities for nurses at the city-run hospital, who were paid close to 20 percent less than average nurse salaries in the district. "It was a long, hard fight for nurses who work hard in a challenging work environment and who were severely underpaid," said Debra Washington, acting president of the DCNA/United Medical Center bargaining unit, noting that the fight for a fair contract took almost a year. "Many of us have stayed with UMC throughout the various transitions of management, demonstrating our commitment to the patients we serve. We will continue to advocate for improving patient care at UMC."