An estimated 80,000 uninsured, mostly Black workers, in this city depend upon the hospital for care. The city's only public hospital, D.C. General is also an advanced trauma center that treats gunshots, stabbings, and other emergency cases.

Under the guise of "responsible fiscal management," Congress and the White House appointed a financial control board to oversee the city's finances in the mid-1990s. Early this year members of Congress and the board stepped up pressure on the hospital to "live within its budget." All items in the city's budget are subject to approval by Congress and the Financial Control Board.

Paul Thomas, who has worked in the hospital's warehouse for 29 years, said that they haven't had a raise in 10 years. "This hospital has been underfunded for years," Thomas explained. Many workers added that much of the funding is inefficiently used by highly paid managers.

The Public Benefit Corp. oversees the hospital's plans to lay off 550 workers, eliminate the remaining 250 beds, and convert the hospital into an emergency care facility. Following treatment, patients would be transferred to other, private, hospitals. Many workers like Barbara Smith, who works in the infant care unit, pointed out that "no one has said how they will pay for those transfers."

The board held an August 25 meeting with staff and workers at the hospital. The room was packed, even though most workers had to attend on their breaks. Many, like Smith, were angered as it became clear that the decisions had already been made. Layoff notices are anticipated to take effect in late September. Board members announced that lists of positions to be cut have already been drawn up.

Board officials have said they will contract out the services provided by D.C. General to private hospitals. Geraldine Thomas, a nurse for eight years at the hospital, explained that uninsured Black workers are often mistreated and turned away from private hospitals. "Patients come here because they know they won't be turned away and we will save their lives," she explained.

Joseph Bilikha is from West Africa and a graduate of Howard University Medical School. "It's not just about our jobs," he explained. "I can get another job tomorrow. If this place closes, many patients will die, it's that simple. Everyone here is dedicated to care of the poor and uninsured in this community."

In an August 27 Washington Post article, Paul Tuft, chief executive of Doctors Community Healthcare Corp., which now owns Greater Southeast Community Hospital, admitted that this hospital has a reputation in the Black community of not welcoming the uninsured. Greater Southeast is one of the facilities to which the city may be contracting out health care for workers who are uninsured.

Bruce and Lisa Brown had just left the hospital with their two-year-old daughter. They passed up the bus they had been waiting for in order to explain the broad effects closing the hospital would have. "They're going to close the HIV care unit, and the OB1 and OB2 units that care for mothers before and after pregnancy. I have family members who are living with the AIDS virus and my daughter was born here," Lisa Brown explained.

The hospital also operates eight satellite clinics, which the board claim will remain open for now. It also operates the school nurse programs throughout the city. Working people imprisoned in the city jail are also treated at the hospital.

Beverly Harris stopped for a moment with her granddaughter to talk to workers on the picket line. "I don't know how we will provide care for my granddaughter when the TADF runs out for us," she explained. TADF is Temporary Assistance to Dependent Families, which replaced welfare programs ended under the Clinton administration. Under TADF a mother could no longer receive some forms of assistance after five years. Harris explained she and her daughter have jobs but neither of them provide health-care benefits.

Workers said that they will continue the picket lines outside the hospital and will rally at the mayor's office on September 8 at 10:00 a.m. Plans are also underway for a large turnout at the City Council meeting on September 27.

Sam Manuel is a member of the United Transportation Union and is the Socialist Workers candidate for D.C. Delegate to the House of Representatives.  
 
 
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