AFT Convention Healthcare News
Union urges restoration of workers' rights (July 13, 2008)
Notes from the AFT Healthcare divisional meeting
Delegates rally for healthcare workers
(July 12 2008)

Nurses Win Ban on Mandatory Overtime in New York
New York is now one of a handful of states to put an end to forcing nurses to work overtime. Nurse members from the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) have been working with several other unions for years to lobby their state legislators to ban mandatory overtime, often sharing their stories of being forced to work double shifts. Read more. (June 27, 2008)

Help Wanted
The shortage of healthcare workers in the United States has been well-publicized, but many Americans are still unaware that there is also a global shortage of more than 4 million healthcare workers. Read more. (Healthwire, May/June 2008)

Code GREEN
Health professionals are ready to lead the charge in making their facilities more eco-friendly
It seems everyone is going green these days. The healthcare industry, with the help of its health professionals, is beginning to recognize the benefits of green practices in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Green practices are being used to cut down on energy and water consumption, reduce waste and, most importantly, improve patient care. Read more
(Mar/Apr08)

Union effort gets safety measures passed in New Jersey
Hospitals and nursing homes in New Jersey will be safer places to work, now that laws are in place to curb violence and to promote safe patient handling. Read more
(Mar/Apr08)

Contract prevents short staffing and perserves nurses' rights
It may have taken 17 months, but the registered nurses from the South Jersey Healthcare system who voted for representation by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees finally have a contract. Read more
(Jan/Feb08)

Protecting your license to heal
Obviously, no healthcare worker goes to work wanting to harm a patient. Still, serious mistakes that affect patient care continue to occur. Why? Because healthcare is much more complex than it used to be. Read more. (Healthwire, Jan./Feb. 2008)