Public Sector Nurses_3 3/17/11 10:04 PM Page 12
"Nurses need to understand that
what's happening in Wisconsin
is just as much about nurses as
it is about those public-sector
workers. Yes, we take care of
patients, but there is a societal
element to why we do what we
do. If they take away those rights
to speak up for ourselves and
our patients, then it takes
away our ability to make lives
better for everyone."
across the country. Our slogans? "No cuts,
no concessions." "Blame Wall Street." Also
"Need revenue? Tax corporate greed."
Our message is resonating with Wisconsinites and workers everywhere. We organized a "no concessions" parade on March 3
that drew a following 12 blocks long and an
even bigger crowd waiting at the end. But
the war is far from over. We still have an
uphill battle against entrenched corporate
forces. As of press time, Republican senators in Wisconsin have rammed through the
union-busting portion of their budget bill
without the Democrats.
What should nurses take away from all this? "Nurses need to
understand that what's happening in Wisconsin is just as much
about nurses as it is about those public-sector workers," said
Jean Ross, a Minnesota RN and a copresident of National Nurses United who participated in the Madison protests. "Yes, we
take care of patients, but there is a societal element to why we do
what we do. If they take away those rights to speak up for ourselves and our patients, then it takes away our ability to make
lives better for everyone."
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N AT 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
MARCH 2011
