Visit to Washington
April 4th and 5th, 2006

A delegation of MNA nurses from a variety of MNA hospitals traveled to Washington, D.C. in early April to meet with the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation to discuss a variety of issues, including pending RN staffing legislation, health care reform and contentious contract disputes at a number of bargaining units. MNA members attending the meetings included: MNA President and staff nurse at Cape Cod Hospital Beth Piknick, MNA board member and staff nurse at Newton Wellesley Hospital Nora Watts, MNA board member and staff nurse at St. Vincent’s Hospital Sandy Ellis, MNA board member and staff nurse at UMass Memorial Medical Center—University Campus Judith Smith-Goguen, chair of the MNA local bargaining unit at Mercy Medical Center Stephen Mikelis, co-chair of the MNA local bargaining unit at UMass Memorial Medical Center—Memorial Campus Lynne Starbard, chair of the local bargaining unit at UMass Medical School Sue Campbell, staff nurse at Boston Medical Center Donna Dudik, staff nurse at Mercy Medical Center and director at large Region one Sandra Hottin and chair of the local bargaining unit at Providence Hospital Diane Michael.

During the visit the nurses met with Senator Ted Kennedy, Congressman James McGovern, Congressman William Delahunt, Congressman Richard Neal’s Chief of Staff Ann Jablon, Congressman John Olver’s Chief Health Care Legislative Assistant Nora Kaitfors and Senator John Kerry’s Director of Domestic Policy Heather Mizeur and Legislative Correspondent Aaron Jenkins.