National Nurses United

8 N A T I O N A L N U R S E 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 T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 NEWS BRIEFS NATIONAL S porting red shirts that read "Vote nurses' values—Bernie 2020," the voices of hundreds of registered nurses chanting "Ber-nie! Ber-nie!" filled the halls of National Nurses United (NNU). On Friday, Nov. 15, NNU, the largest union and professional association of regis- tered nurses in the United States officially announced its endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. RNs cited how closely Bernie's platform aligns with nurses' values on a whole host of issues, from backing the union rights of working people, to bold action on the climate crisis, to his unwaver- ing support of winning Medicare for All. "Bernie, you truly are one of us," said NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN, highlighting Sanders' long history of championing issues that nurses care about. "We need to get you some scrubs! We know billionaires are trying to buy this election. Well, who takes on a billion-dollar industry every single day and wins? Nurses. Together with Bernie, we're going to fight for the people." "Nurses are the backbone of the Ameri- can health care system," said Sanders, emphasizing that NNU members have shown courage in their longtime leadership of the grassroots Medicare for All move- ment. "You do fantastic work. That is why nurses are the most admired profession. Perhaps more than any other group in America, you understand the dysfunction and cruelty of the current health care system. You see it every day." NNU's presidents told the crowd of cheering nurses that Sanders' dedication to rebuilding the labor movement and protect- ing workers—as the chief sponsor of the Workplace Democracy Act and as a cospon- sor of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act—was central to the endorse- ment. "Bernie knows our millionaire and billionaire CEOs will exploit workers with complete disregard for human rights, civil rights, or safety, and he understands that it's union power—worker power—that keeps employers in check," said NNU President Zenei Cortez, RN, lauding Sanders' call for an end to "right-to-work" laws and at-will employment, and his vow to protect work- ers' right to organize and bargain collective- ly for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. According to nurses, Sanders' leadership in the fight to win Medicare for All, and his call for a Green New Deal for climate and environmental justice were also key in earn- ing NNU's endorsement. "Nurses have been fighting to win health care as a human right, to win Medicare for All—for decades. And you know who has been with us all along? Bernie," said NNU President Jean Ross, RN. "People shouldn't have to choose between rent, food, and health care. That violates our values as nurs- es." "Here in the Bay Area, including in Sonoma County where I live, we can touch, feel, breathe, and smell the climate crisis as it impacts our patients and our communi- ties," said NNU President Deborah Burger, RN. "We share Bernie's comprehensive vision for a Green New Deal, and we know he will be a powerful champion and ally in making this vision a reality." Nurses say Sanders also leads the way on legislation dedicated to protecting nurses and patients, including his support for federal safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, federal health care workplace violence protections, and support for a strong Veter- ans Health Administration. NNU also applauds his extensive program for racial and gender justice, college for all and canceling student debt, immigration reform, and other progressive policy pro osals. NNU views the primary campaign as just the first step in what must be a year- long effort to defeat the disastrous policies of the present administration. "We have seen how the current adminis- tration threatens the health and safety of our patients and the planet. To win funda- mental social change for workers, patients, and our communities, it's up to all of us to build the strongest possible broad move- ment, centered on the diversity of our nation. That will continue to be our fore- most priority," said Cortez. Nurses say they know big change has always happened as a result of mass move- ments of everyday people, and they value Sanders' dedication to grassroots organiz- ing. "Collective action gets things done; it's the same thing union nurses see in our workplace, just at a larger scale. More so than any other candidate, Bernie Sanders is a movement builder," said Castillo. "We know that on issues that matter most to nurses and patients, he is the leader who will continue to organize everyday people to fight for an equitable society." —Staff report NNU nurses back Bernie for 2020

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