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M AY | J U N E 2 0 1 7 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 9 nation. In Miami, RNs marched alongside Haitian community leaders, and in Chicago, nurses braved wind and rain to join a crowd of 5,000. "Climate change is the most critical healthcare issue of our time," said Judy Lerma, RN, who marched in San Antonio, Texas. "We owe it to our patients, our communities, our country, and our planet to fight back with all our united energy against the forces that would ravage our home and threaten all of earth's inhabitants with extinction. This is the fight of our lives and nurses will not back down!" "With more than 400 parts per million CO 2 in the atmosphere, fracking, oil pipelines, mountain top removal for coal— we are poisoning the environment that supports life and health," said Chicago RN Maria Bell, who marched with her fellow nurses and Reclaim Chicago. "We have to quickly move to 100 percent publicly controlled renewable energy before it's too late!" The People's Climate march is just the latest example of NNU registered nurse members across the country recognizing that, in order to best advocate for their patients, they must advocate for environ- mental justice. NNU nurses are particularly active in fighting the fossil fuel industry; opposing the Keystone XL pipeline, the Dakota Access Pipeline, opposing fracking across the country, and organizing to win the Clear Skies Ordinance to stop a tar sands export terminal in South Portland, Maine are just a few examples. "At this point, I believe that if you are not willing to be part of the solution, then you are simply part of the problem," said RN Lara Norkus-Crampton, who marched in Minneapolis, Minn. "We all have to do our part. I am proud of the nurses trying to work for the health of our planet and the health of all who rely on it." —Kari Jones MAINE I n a nearly unanimous turnout, regis- tered nurses and other healthcare work- ers at Hospice of Southern Maine (HSM) in Scarborough, voted on May 10 56-40 to join the Maine State Nurses Association, resisting an intense anti-union campaign by their employer. MSNA will represent more than 110 RNs, licensed clinical social workers, nurs- es' aides, housekeepers, and other staff at the facility. They will join 2,000 other MSNA members as part of National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United. "Today is an important day," said HSM RN Pauli Juneau. "We came together and supported each other so that we can make the changes needed for our patients." "We're delighted to welcome this great victo- ry for hospice patients, and the incredibly dedi- cated healthcare workers who lovingly provide their care," said Cokie Giles, RN, MSNA presi- dent and a national co-president of NNOC. Key issues in the campaign were assuring the highest standard of care for HSM patients, improving staffing, smaller case- loads to improve care, and fair wages. "We look forward to building a stronger future for Hospice of Southern Maine," said Annette Lemek, a licensed clinical social worker at HSM. "With a voice in our work- place, we will improve the care we provide to patients and families in our community in Southern Maine." —Staff report Maine hospice workers unionize Seek best care for their patients, standards for themselves