For the past several years the California Nurses Association (CNA) have launched what can only be described as a smear campaign against Huntington Memorial Hospital (HMH), its management, and ironically against many of the very nurses they purported they wanted to protect. The CNA held rallies and protests outside the hospital and of course many politicians, such as Congresswoman Chu and numerous members of the Pasadena City Council calling for HMH to “just let the nurses vote”.

So when time came for the HMH RNs to vote on the matter the RNs turnout in unprecedented numbers something that rarely happens. The outcome, which was no surprise to this RN, was that the CNA lost. The unofficial tally of the NLRB-led and supervised April 15th – 16th election was as follows – 539 No to 445 Yes with 176 challenged votes. Did the CNA honor the will of the HMH RNs, of course not? Instead they cried foul, filed complaints and demanded an opportunity to have a brand new election. The NLRB, which is not known for being all that fair and heavily favoring “unions” no matter how egregious their actions are – don’t believe me just ask the RNs from Cedar-Sinai that had to endure threats of violence against their children and pets if they opposed the CNA coming into Cedars. Threats which at first the local NLRB folks stated were no big deal, but at least the DC office disagreed and made the final decision that CNA employees have indeed made threats in order to chill the NO-vote.

The NLRB decided that HMH had made errors and that the CNA deserved another bite at the apple, and so another vote was scheduled. As the new date approached the CNA filed additional complaints further delaying the vote. Then about two months ago an interesting rumor began to spread through many of the HMH nursing units. The rumor was that the CNA had abandoned their efforts to unionize the HMH RNs, but no official announcement was made until April 26th when I received word from several of my sources that the CNA had withdrawn their petition – effectively ending the fight to unionize the HMH RNs.

So after all the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth and stories from the so-called down-trodden RNs that the CNA were going to save from the “evil” machinations of the hospital administration – the CNA quietly pulled up stakes and left.

Why? You may ask did the CNA give up the battle for the hearts and souls and most importantly the dues of the HMH RNs because apparently in the end they did their math and figured that they would lose this election as well. And of course they could risk a news story about them losing an election, they only want news stories about their triumphs.   So kudos to the IStandWithHuntington nurses and their supporters for being the voice of the opposition and it was due in large part to this opposition that HMH RNs got the opportunity to stand up to the CNA.

I do wonder where are all those community leaders, religious leaders and politicians, like Chu, Tornek, Gordo and others now? They rallied with the CNA endorsing the CNA line but failed to rally to show their support when the HMH RNs won the day. The silence is deafening!

Congratulations HMH RNs for making your choice known, now its time to rebuild many of the bridges and bonds with your co-workers that the CNA had no trouble breaking. It’s time to reunite once again for the good of your nursing team, the hospital, the community and most importantly for the very patients you have committed to serve.

Terry Tornek for Mayor — NOT!

Not that long ago the Pasadena Star News announced that it endorsed Councilman Terry Tornek for mayor. In their editorial they characterized his running as mayor, as being brave. They came to this conclusion that he was brave by throwing his hat in the ring, before Mayor Boggard (our current mayor) had announced whether or not he’d seek another term. I don’t know about you but I would hardly call what Tornek did as brave, especially since he didn’t resign his council seat – that’s right. He’s currently an elected member of our city council, so if he loses his bid for mayor he can finish out his term. In my book that’s not called being brave, it’s called hedging your bets. At least, Jacque Robinson resigned her council seat to run for mayor – not that’s definitely showing more courage that Tornek – but still not enough to earn my vote.

At first, I was supportive of Robinson in her run for mayor, but as time would reveal she, like her fellow councilmember Tornek, were way too beholding to their union cronies. I was able to come to this conclusion because these two, like Victor Gordo and Judy Chu were only open to listening to the handful of pro-California Nurses Association (CNA) nurses from Huntington Hospital and chose to ignore the requests of the we-don’t-need the CNA nurses from Huntington Hospital (they call themselves IStandWithHuntington). It took 30 or so IStandWithHuntington nurses swarming the CNA sponsored press conference before Robinson, Tornek, et al to even acknowledge that there nurses that had a differing opinion on the issue of whether or not to unionize.

So when I took in account both Tornek and Robinson’s lack of fairness to the IStandWithHuntington nurses and that these two individuals were also sitting councilmembers during at least part of the time a city employee was able to embezzle an estimated 6.4 million of Pasadena taxpayer money – I made the decision that it was time to support a different candidate. So from among the remaining four candidates, I decided that I’d support and vote for Don Morgan.

Your can read my letter here – (LTE PSN Tonrek for Mayor2a) that I sent to the Pasadena Star News, which they have failed, refused — call it what you may. I hope you’ll consider voting for Don Morgan. I think he would be a welcomed change.