National Nurses United

J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 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 WRAP-UP REPORT Florida registered nurses from across Florida, working with community organizations such as Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) Broward, Democratic Socialists of America, and Tim Canova campaign volun- teers, commemorated the 52nd anniversary of Medicare on July 30 by rallying and canvassing their communities and visiting their congressional representatives to ask them to support a national improvement and expansion of a single-payer, Medicare for all health system. They made sure to call on Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chair of the Democratic National Commit- tee who resigned after being exposed as showing bias against Bernie Sanders in his 2016 primary against Hillary. Wasserman Schultz is one of five Democrats who has not signed onto H.R. 676, the single-payer measure in the House, and recently refused participant ques- tions on single- payer during a recent phone-based town hall on health- care. In Spring Hill, nurses joined a women's march to support Medicare for all. In St. Peters- burg, NNOC nurses visited Rep. Charlie Crist to ask that he support H.R. 676, among other issues. Texas registered nurses have been very active this summer in their advocacy for patients and their communities. On July 30, Corpus Christi RNs challenged Rep. Blake Faren- thold, who represents Texas' 27th congres- sional district, to step outside (of his office) and take part in a "duel" of healthcare facts. Nurses were calling out Farenthold for saying, as his reaction to several Republican women senators' "no" vote on the GOP healthcare bill, that he would have asked them to "step outside and settle this Aaron Burr-style" had they been south Texas men. Nurses say, rather than blaming women senators, elected officials must understand that the legislation failed because it is simply not what the people want. "Many of us nurs- es are also women, and we are capable, strong, and intelligent," said Cynthia Martinez, a mother-baby nurse. "We know what will truly protect our patients, and it's Medicare for all." In El Paso, NNOC-Texas nurses turned out at a press conference on Aug. 1 to denounce the passage of SB4, a state law that penalizes sanctuary cities—cities that have declared they will not enforce or do not care about a person's immigration status— and also gives local law enforcement author- ity to ask about a person's status during routine interactions, such as a traffic stop. —Staff report From left: Florida RNs and healthcare activists rally in support of Medicare for all; Texas RNs challenge Rep. Farenthold to duel of healthcare facts; Texas nurses speak out against state law that penalizes sanctuary cities. CALIFORNIA V oicing concerns about safe staffing, retirement security, and other patient and economic protections, registered nurses at Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, Calif. voted in early September to join the California Nurses Association /National Nurses United. In a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, RNs voted 241 to 27, by 90 percent, to be repre- sented by CNA/NNU. The election victory is the culmination of a three-month campaign by the Shasta Regional RNs. "We joined CNA because we want only the best care for our community's patients. In order to have the protection to advocate for them, we need to unionize with CNA," saidDaniGunder- son, an emergency room RN. The 350 RNs at the medical center, which is part of the Prime Healthcare system, will join with their colleagues work- ing at other CNA/NNU-represented Prime hospitals, including Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno, Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in San Diego, and Centinela Medical Center in Inglewood. CNA also represents RNs at another Redding hospi- tal, Mercy Medical Center Redding, part of the Dignity Health system. "The vast majority of new RNs here leave for nearby hospitals where, because their nurses are [represented by] CNA—they have fairer wages and safer working conditions," said Shasta RN Tricia Weaver, who works in the hospital's recovery room. "We need to collectively bargain here at Shasta Regional so we can recruit and retain experienced nurses and improve patient care." With their election victory, Shasta RNs look forward to electing a team of their colleagues to represent them in negotiations with hospital representatives on a first contract. In addition to safe staffing, a secure retirement, and promoting RN retention, the nurses want to assure adequate equip- ment and supplies, increased support staff, and elevating other standards. —Staff report Shasta Regional RNs vote by landslide to join CNA

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