National Nurses United

NEWS BRIEFS Michigan RNs Celebrate Year of Rise in Political Power I MICHIGAN ��� wouldn���t be where i am without MNA.��� One by one, political leaders who are fighting for nurses and working families got up and shared those same thoughts with Michigan Nurses Association members at MNA���s annual convention and House of Delegates in October. MNA has worked hard to increase its visibility, political advocacy, and influence so it can effect change, and it���s paid off. ���Politicians are getting the message that if you support nurses and working families, MNA will have your back���and if you don���t, you better watch out,��� said John Armelagos, a University of Michigan Health System RN and president of MNA���s PAC. ���We are leading the way and putting labor organizations much larger than us to shame. Holding elected leaders accountable and changing public policy is just as important as advocating for our patients at the bedside.��� The nurses have been front and center in several key races, including the one in August between state representatives Jon Switalski and Lesia Liss. Thanks to redistricting, only one could stay in office. There was never a question of where MNA stood: Liss, an emergency room nurse, turned from patient advocate to hospital industry patsy quickly after joining the Legislature. Switalski, on the other hand, is proudly championing the safe staffing legislation that Liss abandoned. 8 N AT I O N A L N U R S E After months of aggressive MNA support of Switalski���including doorknocking, mailers, phone calls, and PAC donations���voters dumped Liss by a margin of 65 percent to 35 percent. ���You need to understand the power you have,��� Switalski told the nurses at their convention. ���When the red shirts show up at their doors, people listen. MNA is the reason I am still here. I will never forget how you fought for me and I will never stop fighting for you and your patients.��� In all, MNA knocked on more than 6,000 doors to help elect pro-nurse, proworker candidates to the Michigan House of Representatives. Members did all that on top of their constant work to build support for Proposal 2, the ballot initiative to protect collective bargaining rights by adding them to the state constitution. MNA���s growing political advocacy is part of its commitment to taking back our government and making sure everyone���s voices are heard. Nurses have been out front in challenging the repressive Michigan government���s attempts to silence women and workers. Through aggressive media work, a presence at rallies, and partnerships with other progressive organizations, MNA consistently called out the conservative legislative majority that made national news by silencing female legislators and trying to take away women���s rights to their own healthcare decisions. MNA also played a major role in shaping public opinion about Republican Congressman Dan Benishek, a retired surgeon who voted to replace Medicare with a private insurance voucher system while giving his millionaire friends more tax breaks. As a doctor who turned his back on patients and put profits first, Benishek drew the well-deserved wrath of MNA���s nurses. As the months went by, with MNA nurses hammering away at Benishek and his attack on the Medicare system that sustains so many of their patients, Benishek went from leading in the polls to falling behind. Erica Ham, an RN at Marquette General Hospital in Benishek���s district and a thirdyear MNA delegate, said she is proud of how MNA���s political power has grown. ���Our political action is making MNA more effective and visible in our communities,��� Ham said. ���People recognize that nurses are��a powerful and dedicated��profession that cares deeply about others.��I���m inspired to become more politically active for the benefit of my patients.������Dawn Kettinger Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation Publication title: National Nurse. Publication number: USPS 0807-560, ISSN 2153-0386. Filing date: 10-1-2012. Issue frequency: Monthly except for combined issues in January-February and July-August. Number of issues published annually: 10. Annual subscription price: $40. Complete mailing address of known of���ce of publication: 2000 Franklin St., Oakland, Alameda County, California, 94612-2908. Contact person: Lucia Hwang. Telephone: (510) 273-2200. Complete mailing addresses of headquarters or general business of���ce of publisher: Same as above. Publisher: California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, 2000 Franklin St., Oakland, California, 94612. Editor: Lucia Hwang. Managing editor: None. Owner: California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, 2000 Franklin St., Oakland, California, 94612. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount: none. Tax status: Has not changed during preceding 12 months. Publication title: National Nurse. Issue date for circulation data below: July-August 2012. Extent and nature of circulation: Registered nurse members of CNA/NNU and subscribers. For the following, the ���rst number represents the average number of copies of each issue during preceding 12 months and the second number represents the number of copies of the single issue published nearest to ���ling date. Total number of copies (net press run): 145,700; 140,300. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541: 140,452; 134,480. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541: 0; 0. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales, and other paid distribution outside USPS: 0; 0. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 79, 61. Total paid distribution: 140,531; 134,541. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 42; 44. Free or nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 0; 0. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0; 0. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 0; 0. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 42; 44. Total distribution: 140,573; 134,585. Copies not distributed: 5,127; 5,715. Total: 145,700; 140,300. Percent paid: 99.97%; 99.97%. Information in this statement will be published in the October 2012 issue of this publication. 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 O C TO B E R 2 0 1 2

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