National Nurses United

together for the common goal of preserving public services as one of the noblest of human pursuits, and keeping it safe from corpo- rate predators who would privatize the sun if they thought prof- its could be made." Beatty, the keynote speaker at the banquet, blasted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for trying to ram through "reactionary" proposals on November's special election ballot, and praised nurs- es for their advocacy on behalf of patients, other vulnerable pop- ulations, and the public. "I want to thank you, California Nurses," said Beatty. "You and your tireless organizing have stood up to the arrogance of power and money and bullying and insulting disrespect of pub- lic servants." Beatty said he was committed to using his fame and talent to influence public opinion in support of values that he shares with nurses, such as caring for the sick and less fortunate. Describing himself as an "old time, unrepentant, unrecon- structed, tax-and-wisely-spend, bleeding-heart, die-hard liberal Democrat who … believes in the golden rule, social programs, a safety net, regulation, and an active government," Beatty said that he hoped the societal damage done by our current state and federal administrations was bringing those beliefs back into style. Beatty's wife, actor Annette Bening, and actor Sean Penn also at- tended the dinner in support of CNA. His speech was well received by the RN delegates, who cheered wildly, gave numerous standing ovations, and chanted "Stop Arnold" and "Run, Warren, run" throughout the night. Following his speech, CNA honored allies, such as the presidents of the teach- ers and firefighter unions, other activists, and its own RN leaders. "The public trusts us nurses to do what's right," said Deborah Burger, RN and president of the California Nurses Association. "In California, nurses are required to be patient ad- vocates, and you can't do that without being a social advocate— to change all the other problems out there that are hurting not only the physical health, but economic and social health of work- ing people." All of the convention's activities, whether in the education classes offered during the first two days or in the resolutions up for consideration by the House of Delegates, focused on this theme of social advocacy. Marla de Graaff, an OB RN at Mercy Hospital of Folsom, said she especially appreciated the scope of content taught in the ed- ucational courses. Nurses learned about how the nation's budg- etary priorities on military spending are squeezing funding for healthcare, education, and housing; how business groups have steadily eroded labor laws over the past half century; and how California's minimum RN safe staffing law could be under attack in global trade courts, but the public doesn't even know it or have the right to know. "Most classes for nurses are always about the clinical side of nursing, so these offer information on another side of things that influence our work," said de Graaff. "Nurses are so wrapped up in a small room, in a patient room. We're so used to focusing on one individual that it's hard to take that global view." Bonnie Morgan, a recovery room RN at Kaiser Permanente in Richmond, said she felt proud to help lead an organization that sees the larger picture of her patients' health and tries to edu- cate its RN members to see it, too. "My service to patients in- cludes more than just hands-on care," said Morgan, a first-time delegate to the House. "It also includes their social and economic needs as well. Everything here makes it crystal clear that my mission is to educate the populace. We nurses have the access and the credibility." That popularity was apparent during a short rally and march delegates held during lunch on Sept. 22. As the procession of RNs, chanting "Hey hey, ho ho, in November we're voting no," wound its way through downtown Oakland, some spectators C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E O C T O B E R 2 0 0 5 13 SAY THAT AGAIN We've been with you chasing Arnold from the beginning…We know you're fighters, we love being with you. And it will be our great pleasure to have you alongside of us in the AFL-CIO. You showed the leadership, you were the one group in the crowd that said, 'The emperor has no clothes.' Now the whole crowd says the emperor has no clothes and we'll prove it on Nov. 8. —Lou Paulson, president, California Professional Firefighters Despite all the obstacles constantly thrown in your way to try to prevent you from doing your job, you don't let anything get in your way. Nurses just keep going forward helping patients, finding ways to do what needs to be done. As such you represent the very best of America. —James Steele, award-winning journalist and author There has never been and maybe never will be a more courageous, genuine, persistent and powerful, and persistent union in the U.S. than the California Nurses Association. In the course of the last decade, no force in the state has as great an influence on balance of power in California politics. —Jamie Court, president, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights You were the first to get out there and protest the governor, and our folks were so impressed. Our people said, 'We can do that!' —Barbara Kerr, president, California Teachers Association My service to patients includes more than just hands-on care. It also includes their social and economic needs as well. Everything here makes it crystal clear that my mission is to educate the populace. We nurses have the access and the credibility. —BONNIE MORGAN, RN AND FIRST-TIME DELEGATE

• Cover