National Nurses United

SNA 2010_5 Page 6/24/10 2:34 PM Page 18 VOICES FROM THE CONFERENCE What is your definition of an RN Hero? "An RN hero is fearless, somebody willing to stand up and fight back and throw herself in front of a bus if it has to happen. Doesn't think about the negatives, only about the positives. Just like a mother can pick up a car that is crushing her child, a nurse can pick up a broken healthcare system that's crushing a patient." —Judy Lerma, RN, San Antonio, TX "Integrity. When we say we're going to take care of patients, that's our word." —Pat Meave, RN, Kalamazoo, MI "Someone who saves lives and isn't afraid to stand up for what they believe in." —Angela Calvert, RN, Kansas City, MO "An RN hero is just doing her job—with trust, respect, and compassion." —Sue Bedinghaus, RN, St. Petersburg, FL "Someone who listens and comforts." —Liberty Santos, RN, Santa Rosa, CA "All of us here." —Joan Greaves, RN, Washington, DC "Somebody who goes to work every day at a facility where the ratios are too high and patients are acutely ill and still gives 110 percent, every patient, every shift." —Sheila Ainsworth, RN, Brighton, MA by one daycare provider," Stevens continued. "But there is no limit to the amount of sick children a nurse can take care of." Afterwards, Steven said she was a little nervous. "But I remembered what [NNU Executive Director] Rose Ann DeMoro said about it being time to demand that they listen to us. I actually started to get a little angry, and that made the nerves go away." Kerry's aide said she would speak with him about co-sponsoring the ratios legislation. Time Out for Fun in keeping with the theme of RN Heroes, the conference also honored nurses who had traveled to Haiti to tend to victims of the country's recent devastating earthquake. Nurses heard speeches from Trumka—who called NNU "a super-union for super-heroes"— and eminent journalist Helen Thomas, who spoke about the need for universal, single-payer healthcare. And they took some time out to relax with karaoke and a dance party. In interviews, many nurses said they were thrilled to have the chance to connect with their colleagues around the country. "It's been very exciting and empowering for all the nurses in Massachusetts to be among other nurses who are taking their own time off to fight for what they believe in," said Donna Kelly-Williams, RN, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Kelly-Williams said one MNA member had flown in on the last day of the event just to be there for a few hours. "The thing I've learned the most here is how powerful solidarity is," said Ashley Calvert, RN, of Kansas City, Missouri. "To see how we can move on and support new hospitals with their fights has been a wonderful experience." Liberty Santos, RN, of Santa Rosa, Calif. said she appreciated the chance to learn from more experienced nurses. "It's interesting to me because I'm very young compared to other nurses," she said. "Knowing what my elders have gone through is a big eye-opener for me." The best part of the event, according to Massachusetts RN Jennifer Rogers? "It was wicked fun." —Staff Report NNU Resolution on National Contract Standards …Be it Resolved that the First Annual National Nurses United Staff Nurse Assembly will promote national collective bargaining standards for all NNU contract agreements, and that will be our program for all unrepresented RNs as we seek to organize them into NNU, and Be it Further Resolved that these standards should emphasize improvements for patients and RNs and our profession, including: n Enhanced RN staffing, based on individual patient acuity with minimum, specific RN-topatient ratios and contract language to enforce staffing ratios; n Restrictions on unsafe floating; n A ban on mandatory shift rotation and mandatory overtime; 18 N AT I O N A L N U R S E n Mechanisms to contain exposure of patients and nurses to pandemics and other communicable diseases; n Improved retirement security through adequately funded and guaranteed defined benefit pension plans and employer-paid post-retirement medical benefits; n Limits on the introduction of new technology that displaces RNs or RN professional judgment; n Workplace safety protections to provide for RN health and safety; n Provisions that enhance and promote unity and collective strength for union RNs And, Be it Further Resolved that NNU affiliates will not sign concessionary agreements that are 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 injurious to our patients, our members, and our profession that undermine all represented RN contract standards, including: n Takeaways in compensation, health benefits, retirement plans, or work hours or schedules; n Two-tier plans that establish reduced pensions, lower pay or other reduced standards for new hires; n Merit pay agreements or other proposals that erode seniority or years of service as an RN; n Layoffs of RNs or displacements of RNs with other staff… Read the full text of the resolution at www.nationalnursesunited.org M AY 2 0 1 0

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