National Nurses United

NATIONAL O ur very own Bonnie Castillo, RN and executive director of National Nurses United, was named by TIME on Sept. 22 to the 2020 TIME100, its annual list of the most influential people in the world. "This award is a great honor for all of our nurse members, across the country, and for nurses everywhere, union and nonunion," said Castillo. "Nurses understand the social determinants of health and how so much injustice in our society is amplified by Covid-19. As we advocate for our patients at the crossroads of so many critical issues, this award lets nurses everywhere know that our expertise is recognized, and it validates our fight to speak truth to power." The full list and related tributes appear in the Oct. 5, 2020 issue of TIME and at time.com/time100. The list, now in its seven- teenth year, recognizes the activism, innovation, and achievement of the world's most influential individuals. Castillo also participated in TIME's TIME100 talks with select winners, which you can view at time.com/collection/time100-talks/ NNU and its affiliates are renown for longtime leadership in the fight for Medicare for All, for negotiating many of the best union contracts for RNs in the nation, for sponsorship of innovative legislation and reg- ulatory protections for patients and nurses, and in this year of all years, the World Health Organization-declared "Year of the nurse," for being a prominent and unrelenting voice demanding Covid-19 protections for nurses and other frontline workers. As a registered nurse, Castillo said she understood from the earliest reports of a rapidly spreading novel coronavirus that nurses would have to stand up and speak out at every level of power for optimal personal protective equipment (PPE). Beginning in January, under Castillo's leadership, NNU began sending letters to the WHO, the Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention, the Trump administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other agencies and officials, demanding that nurses have the highest level of protections. "As patient advocates, nurses have been telling our employers and the government all along, 'You must follow science.' And that means following the precautionary principle, which says we must use the highest level of protections, not the lowest, unless there is scientific proof otherwise. The virus is new, but the infection control is not," said Castillo. While NNU nurses have won victories at some facilities, Castillo said nurses are still fighting an uphill battle for optimal protec- tions, and that nurses hope the TIME100 award keeps a focus on that fight. "We hope any attention received through this incredible honor inspires the public to stand with nurses in our demands that Pres- ident Trump activate the Defense Production Act to mass produce PPE, and that federal OSHA pass an emergency tem- porary standard on infectious diseases," said Castillo. "This award lets us know that our voice of patient advocacy is louder and more resonant than ever before. It means every- thing to receive such a prestigious award. It's confirmation that the world is listening to nurses." —Kari Jones HCA told the nurses that "nothing would change for at least a year and a half," recalled Amy Waters, RN in pedi- atric ICU. The RNs "did our own research and decided NNU was the right union for us." Despite what she said is an often- heard view that "you don't talk about unions in the South," the nurses came to understand that "collective action gave us the ability to overcome that." In early March this year, the RNs filed their petition with the NLRB for a union election, and then had to wait and wait for six months before being able to vote. Wait times for elections under Trump's management-dominated NLRB have generally doubled, giving employers more time to pressure workers to vote against union representation. "During the time in between, we grew close as a group of nurses," said Waters. "I met nurses from all over the hospital and we fought together through peti- tions, actions to address our concerns over patient care conditions, and the need for better protection against the virus and we were able to win victories. Staying active kept our unity, and the promise of a collective voice to win greater improvements." The strong support of the Asheville community—from elected leaders and the faith community to local organiza- tions and their neighbors—was crucial for the nurses. "Our families, friends, and fellow citi- zens rely on the care we provide here," said Hannah Drummond, a trauma care unit RN. "Their overwhelming love and support remind me of why we're doing this. They gave us strength. I'm so grate- ful this victory will allow us to be better advocates for our community." The nurses will next elect a team to represent them in contract negotiations with management for their first union contract. "This victory is just the beginning," said Alex Kimbro, a recovery room RN at Mission. "We are looking forward to bar- gaining for a fair contract to improve patient safety, as well as competitive wages to keep Asheville nurses working here in our community. We are more than ready to win the next chapter too." —Charles Idelson NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN named to TIME100 most influential An unprecedented honor for nurses and the organization J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . 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