FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2001
CONTACT:
Peggy Barry, (508)757-0778
Karen Daley (781) 344-6926
Annie Lewis O'Connor (781) 845-5694
Hope Hall, 202-651-7027
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www.nursingworld.org/rnrealnews
Members Bring Legal Action to Restore Democracy to Massachusetts Nurses Association
Boston, MA-- A coalition of Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) members, including union members of the labor arm of MNA, filed legal actions today to enjoin the current Board from expending funds illegally and to ensure that rank and file nurses' rights are protected.
"Motions filed today in District Court in Dedham, Massachusetts will put the rogue Board of the MNA on notice that their illegal actions will not be tolerated," said Annie Lewis O'Connor, an MNA union member and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuits.
The lawsuit follows actions taken by several MNA Board members on Dec. 1, when they summarily fired employees without cause, announced plans to disaffiliate from the American Nurses Association (ANA), and replaced Board members who disagreed with such measures. This "coup" was in reaction to an unsuccessful vote to break ties between MNA and ANA, its national organization.
"Less than three percent of MNA members voted to disaffiliate. They could not win the fair, democratically held vote so they decided they would stage a coup d'etat," said Karen Daley, the MNA President who resigned in protest of the rogue Board's actions. "Not only did they fire loyal, hard-working staff without cause, but they replaced them right away without going through regular hiring procedures, including adhering to affirmative action policies designed to further diversity goals of the association."
The lawsuit charges the newly constituted Board with expending funds to disaffiliate from ANA, in violation of MNA's bylaws, contrary to Massachusetts state law, and in opposition to the vote of members on Nov. 9 to continue ANA affiliation. In addition, members' dues have not been forwarded to ANA -- another violation of the MNA bylaws.
"The lawsuit asks the Court to stop MNA from spending members' dues money on disaffiliation efforts and to require MNA to pay ANA the dues that are owed," said Peggy Barry, MNA Treasurer.
A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m.
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