National Nurses United

RNs working throughout the University of California hospital system; and in San Bernardino County, where NNU represents nurses working for the county's main hos- pital, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, as well as its clinics and jails. NNU is urging Congress to reverse the decision and support the Workplace Democracy Act, introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders in the U.S. Senate and Rep. Mark Pocan in the U.S. House of Representatives to strengthen the rights of workers to form unions—and for state legislators to also act to protect the rights of workers and unions. In addition, nurses have been active in approaching the public boards and bodies that govern their facilities to secure commit- ments agreeing not to bust their unions. So far, nurses at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hos- pital in Hollister, Calif.; Alameda Health Sys- tem in the San Francisco Bay Area; San Mateo Medical Center; and Salinas Valley Memorial Health System have lobbied their elected officials and received some assur- ances that they will not use the Janus deci- sion to break the union. Nurses are also campaigning to educate fellow nurses about the importance of remaining in or joining the union to strengthen their collective voice. In health care, the decision "seeks to handcuff registered nurses and other public health care workers who challenge unsafe conditions or cuts in patient services," said Burger. "Nurses have seen hospitals aggres- sively pushing to cut corners that leads to dangerous conditions that jeopardize patient lives, as well as corporate-aligned politicians shredding public health care and other safety-net programs." Nurses in public hospitals emphasize what a difference having a collective union voice makes in advocating for patient safety and public protections. "Budget cuts fre- quently threaten to close services that the community desperately needs," said Martese Chism, a registered nurse at Chica- go's John H. Stroger Hospital. "When the system threatened to close pediatric servic- es at Stroger, we came together with other public sector unions at county and fought to keep pediatrics open." Janus is modeled after so-called "right- to-work" private-sector laws in 28 states in which workers, even after a majority have voted to join a union, also are not required to be dues-paying members. In those states, median household incomes are $8,174 less than in non-right-to-work states, people under 65 are 46 percent more likely to be uninsured, infant mortality rates are 12 per- cent higher, and workplace deaths occur 49 percent more often. —Staff report M AY | J U N E 2 0 1 8 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 5 FLORIDA AND TEXAS A s rose schneiderman, the early 20th century socialist and feminist labor activist, famously said, work- ers need "both bread and roses" to live their lives to the fullest. In National Nurses Organizing Committee's Southern Region office in Tampa, Fla., that slogan is exemplified by a colorful, 30-foot-long wall mural depicting the collective work of union- ized nurses. Against the South's lush, tropical landscape, a wonderfully diverse group of RNs are shown at the bedside of pa tients, casting votes for unionization, and picketing in the streets to champion some of the myriad cam - paigns nurses have undertaken to promote the health of their patients and com munities: safe staffing ratios, environmental justice, the Robin Hood Tax, and Medicare for All. "Walking into the union office and seeing this mural is so wonderful for me as a nurse," said Rose Campbell, a local RN. "I can see myself and my colleagues in this mural and it makes me proud to be part of this union." When NNOC moved into this location, staff saw an oppor- tunity to have movement art decorate and inspire this space where RNs and allies would often be gathering. They commissioned Sam Huang to paint the mural. "I want to thank NNU for the opportunity in allowing me to create this mural which is my heartfelt trib- ute to all the hardworking nurses and their dedication to caring for the sick," said Huang. "The mural is an expression of my gratitude as well as my admiration for their spirit of unity, solidarity, and justice, which is an inspiration to all workers." —Staff report Painting a picture of a better world Mural depicts Southern Region nurses in action

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