RN claims union efforts led to her termination

Friday, Sept. 19, 1997 | 1:28 a.m.

Standing among 30 allies outside the emergency room where she worked until Wednesday, a registered nurse said she has been fired because of her relentless effort to unionize Columbia Sunrise Hospital.

Service Employees International Union organized a press conference and protest Friday morning on behalf of Gina Hendershot, who has been employed at Sunrise for eight years.

Hendershot says she was suspended without warning Saturday and fired Wednesday over vague and unfounded allegations of drug abuse.

"I made three grammatical errors on a patient's chart and because of that they asked me to take a drug test," said Hendershot.

She said contrary to what the hospital administration has been saying, she did not refuse the test -- she refused to be tested at the hospital because it could easily alter the results.

"I asked to be allowed to take a test off site by an independent tester," said Hendershot.

She said hospital officials refused to give her a copy of Columbia's drug test policy, of her work record or any charges of drug use made against her.

"The only evidence they had was the grammatical errors," said Hendershot.

A nurse for 18 years, Hendershot said she began her union organizing activites three years ago when Columbia bought Sunrise and instituted cost cutting policies which hurt patient care.

About the time Columbia took over, Hendershot was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Though the disease is in remission she said she takes daily medication, including pain pills.

But, she said, doctors gave her clearance to work while taking the medicine.

About six hospital security officers watched the peaceful gathering from a distance and did not interfere with the activities, which included protesters marching to the outside entrance of the administration office of the hospital and chanting "we want Mitch."

Mitch Mitchell is the hospital's chief executive officer.

A hospital spokesman was unavailable for comment immediately following the press conference.