Dear 121RN Members:
I was really encouraged by the solid support for Unions from the Members of Congress we met with last night. It was a great evening and 121RN was honored to host our sisters and brothers from all the L.A. area SEIU Locals (including resident doctors, UHW members, school employees, home care workers, janitors and more!).
It was great to see and catch up with these true labor champions…
- Rep. Judy Chu has always supported our efforts to improve patient and Nurse safety, often getting involved in our AHMC hospitals that are in her congressional district (27th). Last night, she reminisced about being a young faculty member in the Los Angeles Community College District and getting a pink slip. One hundred faculty were going to lose their jobs. But then her Union stepped in and saved her job. She has been committed to Unions and worker protections ever since, including pushing for minimum national work standards, a $15 minimum wage for federal employees, and legislation to protect employees from exploitation.
- Rep. Mark Takano stood with us in our efforts to win strong contracts that improve patient and Nurse safety. He walked picket lines with us at Riverside Community Hospital and Kaiser Moreno Valley, both in his congressional district (41st). Last night, he told us that there's really no local issue that can't be solved by MORE UNION MEMBERS!...income inequality? MORE UNION MEMBERS!...workplace safety? MORE UNION MEMBERS!...racial and gender equity? MORE UNION MEMBERS!
- Rep. Norma Torres (35th congressional district) remembers being a young mom and a Pomona City Council member when she brought her small children to walk the picket line with us as we formed our Union at Pomona Valley Hospital. She laughingly noted that she's the only former Pomona Mayor who has never sat on the hospital's board of directors. She has always been on the Union side!
Want to spend time speaking to (and getting selfies with!) leaders like this? Then be sure to come to our next Congressional Meet'n'Greet next month:
In unity, Gayle Batiste, RN, CNOR President, SEIU Local 121RN