West Tavern, a little hole-in-the-wall taproom tucked unceremoniously next to a highway exit ramp, poured a lot of beers Wednesday.
The old-school bar at 15th and Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia was packed with nurses from Hahnemann University Hospital celebrating a record-setting union win.
"I was very excited, especially since it was such a landslide," said Susan Bowes-Wirsch, a radiology nurse from Doylestown, one of about 50 who lifted a glass Wednesday. "It really sent a message."
Shortly after 10 p.m., when National Labor Relations Board officials finished tallying ballots, 516 nurses had voted to join the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, marking the nation's largest pro-union vote in the last year, according to data from the NLRB.
Read Full Article »