Federal RN safe-staffing law proposed
A bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to set minimum nurse staffing levels in hospitals.

Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.) is sponsoring the Nurse Staffing for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2005, which she introduced in March. 

“Numerous studies show the quality of patient care is directly connected to nurse staffing levels,” said Edward J. McElroy, president of the American Federation of Teachers, an international affiliate of PEF and a strong advocate in Washington for nurses’ issues.

“By requiring safe staffing ratios in hospitals, the federal government will help improve the delivery of high-quality health care in our nation,” said McElroy, who added the legislation could also reduce the number of medical errors, “which not only cause unnecessary deaths, but add billions of dollars to our nation’s runaway health care costs.”

The measure calls on hospitals to establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for registered nurses providing direct patient care in designated units such as pediatrics and the emergency room. 

Hospitals would have two years after the bill’s enactment to develop and implement a staffing plan or face financial penalties.

According to AFT, at least 15 other members of the House of Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation. 

Feds target union locals for audits

The U.S. Labor Department is cracking down on labor union locals nationwide.

The DOL is sending teams of auditors out to scrutinize the finances and recordkeeping of many local unions, in what some union leaders see as payback for the strong opposition labor mounted to the Bush re-election campaign last year.

The Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) is among those hosting federal auditors at many of its local union offices. 

PACE, which is based in Nashville, represents 275,000 workers in the paper, chemical and energy industries and has notified all of its locals to expect federal audits this year. 

The DOL claims it isn’t just picking on labor, but is increasing its enforcement of safety and pension laws on employers too.

The AFL-CIO said the audits are meant to burden all labor unions. — Sherry Halbrook