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NewsBriefs.REV_June REV 7/30/10 6:06 PM Page 4 NEWS BRIEFS Michigan RNs Back Bernero for Governor MICHIGAN ou may remember Virg Bernero from national television. When the automotive Big Three was on the brink of collapse in 2009, the Lansing mayor made numerous appearances on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and CBS and became known as "the Angriest Mayor in America" for his fiery speeches supporting the working people of Michigan. Bernero launched scathing attacks against the titans of Wall Street, accusing them of destroying working Michigan families by sending jobs overseas while lining their own pockets. Bernero has not lost any of that enthusiasm and has now turned his sights on the governor's office. On July 9, the Michigan Y 4 N AT I O N A L N U R S E Nurses Association announced its endorsement of Bernero for governor of Michigan during a press conference in Lansing. It is joined by the Michigan AFL-CIO, the Michigan Education Association, and others. After careful consideration of many candidates, the MNA political action committee and board of directors decided that Bernero was the candidate of choice on both paper and in person. "We're convinced that Virg Bernero will stand behind the nurses of Michigan," said MNA President Jeff Breslin. "Virg is committed to increasing safe, quality patient care in Michigan." Bernero shared his support for nursing during the 2010 Michigan Nurses MARCH!, MNA's legislative day at the Capitol, and has been an advocate of MNA's Safe Patient Care legislation, which when passed will establish minimum RN-to-patient staffing ratios and 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 eliminate mandatory overtime. He is a champion of collective bargaining and unlike his competitors, believes firmly in the need for unions for improving workplaces. A former county commissioner, state representative, and senator in the Michigan Legislature, he has a firm knowledge of state politics and personnel. "If we care about how our loved ones are treated in the hospital, then we need to pay close attention to how nurses are treated by their employers," said Bernero at the press conference. "These are the folks on the front lines providing vital care day in and day out. They deserve decent and fair working conditions and compensation. As Michigan's next governor, I look forward to standing and fighting with our nurses for adequate staffing levels and safe working conditions so they can do what they do best – help the picture of Michigan." —Ann Kettering Sincox JUNE 2010