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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 2 3 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 19 O ne thing is sure as we wrap another powerful year: NNU is a force to be reckoned with. My last column celebrated all the ways NNU nurses have been on the move in 2023 to achieve a healthier society. While we're collectively fighting to shift the values of our culture toward care, not profit, I feel immense pride at the incredible work of the presidents at the helm of our union. NNU presidents Jean Ross, RN; Zenei Triunfo-Cortez, RN; Deborah Burger, RN; and Nancy Hagans, RN, know that our fight for a better world requires leadership every- where, from the facility level to the international stage. So these RN leaders have regularly worked above and beyond to provide support to our collective movement, wherever they are needed. New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) members, for example, know that when NYSNA President Nancy Hagans brings her strength and wisdom to a fight, nurses are fighting to win. In late 2022, 10 private-sector hospitals in New York City were able to reach strong contract agree- ments under Hagans' leadership. Two remaining hospitals, Mount Sinai and Montefiore Bronx, held a successful three- day strike in January 2023, and won and ratified historic contracts that include enforceable nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and other major highlights. Nancy's vision- ary leadership has been critical to these victories and other big wins. Another pivotal victory happened just about a year ago, when more than 21,000 registered nurses and nurse practitioners at 21 Kaiser Permanente facilities in Northern California, as well as RNs at Kaiser Perma- nente Los Angeles Medical Center (LAMC), voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new four- year contract. NNU president Zenei Triunfo-Cortez provided instrumental guid- ance in that bargaining. In Northern California, she trained CNA president and Kaiser RN Cathy Kennedy to step up as bargaining chair, a position Zenei had previ- ously held. And in a perfect example of our circle of solidarity, Zenei had been guided into the role by NNU president and Kaiser RN Deborah Burger, who previously held it. Zenei also met with the LAMC nurse leaders in 2022, supporting them on the path to winning a strong contract. Nurses also know organizing and build- ing our collective power is so critical to patient and nurse safety, so when RNs at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. were voting on whether to elect NNU affiliate the District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA) as their collec- tive bargaining representative, NNU presidents Jean Ross and Deborah Burger were on the ground in Washington, D.C., standing in full support. In July, George Washington nurses voted overwhelmingly to join NNU, and we couldn't be more thrilled to have them in our union family. Our fight to protect our patients also means speaking out at the state, national, and even global level. In May, Nancy Hagans spoke at a town hall in support of Medicare for All with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. She also joined Sen. Sanders for a virtual town hall about safe staffing ratios in September, and she testified at a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on ratios in October. I also personally had an opportunity to share NNU testimony at a recent forum on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the workforce, hosted by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, where I emphasized that health care is unique, and nursing cannot be replaced by AI. As a voice for our patients, nurses also know how critical it is to speak up for all forms of justice. In August, the nation cele- brated the 60th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for racial justice, at the site of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. NNU was beyond fortunate to have Zenei on stage at the anniversary event, speaking out against the racial injustice that is harming and killing our patients, and advocating for guaranteed health care for all people with Medicare for All. And we can't forget that nurses and patients around the world face common threats, underscoring the importance of our international solidarity. To that end, NNU's Jean Ross joined Global Nurses United (GNU) union nurse leaders from Brazil, Burundi, Canada, India, and Italy for a November press briefing on the health impacts of climate change, in advance of COP28, the annual climate summit convened by the United Nations. The briefing culminated in the release of a five-point plan, outlining nurses' demands on governments to mitigate the climate crisis and increase health care systems' preparedness. Deborah and Zenei also attended the Public Services International (PSI) Congress this fall, to continue building solidarity with union workers around the world. PSI is a global union federation of more than 700 trade unions representing 30 million workers in 154 countries, and NNU was fortunate to have our union RN voice represented at the gathering. Our NNU presidents have always been there for us, whether it's fighting in the trenches alongside nurses in their home communities, or telling U.S. Congress members why we need safe staffing ratios now. For their brilliance, and for always illuminat- ing the path ahead, we are so very grateful. Bonnie Castillo, RN is executive director of National Nurses United. Bonnie Castillo, RN Executive Director, National Nurses United A Guiding Light As 2023 draws to a close, we are grateful for NNU leadership These RN leaders have regularly worked above and beyond to provide support to our collective movement, wherever they are needed.